Tactically, we need to talk about Skopje. Scotland won 2-0 away to North Macedonia on Saturday night, in League B of the Nations League. First win for Sébastien Pocognoli as manager, after a 0-0 draw with Slovenia and a 3-0 home defeat to Switzerland. It ended a run of five games without a goal. Five. I know the feeling. Where I am, we call that the start of the season.
The Daily Record praised an aggressive, attacking side, flat out from start to finish. That, I run on Tuesday. When we’ve got eleven, that is.
But what stopped me was what came next. The Scotland fans sang his name to the tune of the Balamory theme, a children’s TV show over there, and he heard none of it. It was Andy Robertson, his captain, who told him after the match. The captain comes over to break the news to the gaffer. With me, it’s the club delegate, folder under his arm, who tells me in the clubhouse bar what happened during the game. I’m on the bench, towel on my knees, phone buzzing, and I can’t hear a thing either. The difference is that at my place, the singing is usually the bar asking for its glasses back.
Pocognoli said: “As long as the fans are happy, I’m happy. But I’ll be a bit more careful next time.” Being careful. Noted. Sunday at three o’clock, I’ll be listening from the twentieth minute. A flat pitch away, mind you, it’s the same thing.
Silly question, but has anyone ever sung your name, Freddy? Asking for my notebook.
I didn’t answer. Robertson, for his part, was being celebrated for his hundredth cap. A hundred games. My left back is on his third club this season, but he always comes back for the cone of chips after the match. On Tuesday, Scotland host Slovenia to close the international window, then it’s November.
It’s true, we checked: L'Avenir.
