Macedonia — Scotland: who will lose their job after tonight?
The Nations League B encounter tonight could determine whether one of the two national coaches keeps his job.
Tonight Macedonia meets Scotland in the third round of Nations League B — a fixture that arrives at a strained moment for both teams and their coaches.
Goce Sedloski, the home coach, is especially exposed after a run of poor results since taking charge. His side has gone six matches without a win and has not scored in six games, amounting to 540 minutes without finding the net. Social media erupted after the losses to Switzerland and Slovenia, with calls for resignations and visible anger among supporters and former teammates, yet "his process" remains Sedloski's stated defence.
On the other side, Belgian coach Sebastian Pocognoli has also struggled since succeeding the previous manager after the World Cup. Scotland produced a pale draw with a underwhelming Slovenia and suffered a heavy home defeat to Switzerland, and Scottish media write that failure to beat Macedonia tonight could cost Pocognoli his job.
Historic echo and immediate consequences
The potential fallout has precedent: George Burley’s decline as Scotland manager began after a defeat to Macedonia in September 2008, when Ilcho Naumoski’s goal in Skopje secured a 1:0 win. That memory hangs over both camps ahead of tonight’s game.
Result will matter more than rhetoric: depending on the scoreline, either Sedloski or Pocognoli could find themselves out of a job after the match — or, if nothing changes, Macedonia’s struggles may continue with Sedloski still in place.
Photo: press material from the event
