Sébastien Pocognoli grimaced on Friday when recalling his playing debut for Belgium. Alessandro Del Piero and Italy discovered favourable opposition when preparing for the 2008 World Cup. Pocognoli will also look back, in time, at his maiden game as the head coach of Scotland.
Blue skies, a dainty stadium in Ljubljana and a second half display that provided glimpses of optimism about Scotland’s world post-Steve Clarke. The best-forgotten first 45 minutes can be explained by a squad operating under a new government. By full time, Slovenia were grateful for their point.
Scotland’s failing here was a familiar one. A lack of goals haunted Clarke. Scott McTominay, an attacking threat, was missing.
Instilling ruthlessness in a team is no task but it is one Pocognoli has the coaching credentials to meet. Slovenia, on this evidence, have the challenges.
Ninety four days had passed since Scotland’s loss to Brazil all but confirmed World Cup elimination. When that meek exit was certain, Clarke announced his resignation. Players and supporters alike seem caught between being grateful to Clarke for altering Scotland’s fortunes and heralding regime change.
In Slovenia, Pocognoli sampled international management for the first time at the age of 39. Slovenia failed to reach the World Cup, with the rows of empty seats here telling the story of a nation that is not at all convinced by its footballing outlook.
Pocognoli had whipped his squad and mini army of backroom staff to La Manga in the buildup to this Nations League clash.
Scotland were awful for 45 minutes.