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With another dramatic month of club football being wrapped up, it’s time to look at everyone’s favourite time of the year: the international break. Last time out was a disappointing affair for Scotland, managing just one victory against North Macedonia, with a disappointing results against Switzerland and Slovenia. With all hopes of topping the Nations League group out the window, Sebastien Pocognoli’s side will be hoping to make a better impression this time around.

The Squad

Pocognoli’s squad for the November window looks fairly similar to the one back in September, with only a few tweaks being made. James Penrice is the only new call up, having been an impressive offensive threat for Rangers, helping assist Ryan Naderi’s winner in their Cup Semi-Final victory over Aberdeen. However, Scotland have been particularly blessed over the past decade with left-backs, and it’ll take a big effort for Penrice to win a starting position over Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney or Aaron Hickey. Another major bonus for Scotland this window is the return of midfielder Scott McTominay, who missed the last window due to injury. The 29-year-old has transformed into one of Scotland’s most influential players, and has continued his great form over the past couple of years into this season, with 5 goals in 11 games for Antonio Conte’s Napoli. With McTominay back, there will be hope that he can bring his offensive threat back into a side which can be lack an attacking edge.

Mday 5: North Macedonia (H)

Scotland’s first game is what many would call the easier of the two, as they host North Macedonia at Hampden, who have not only failed to pick up a point in any of their four games in the group so far, but have been unable to score a single goal. Last time out in Macedonia, Scotland coasted to a simple but unconvincing 2-0 victory, with goals coming from Kieron Bowie and a John McGinn penalty, while Scott McKenna saw a red card for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.

While Scotland were rather poor in front of goal, they never looked in any danger of conceding, with Macedonia failing to get a shot on target and only managing to win one corner in the 90 minutes, despite having more possession than Scotland.

The two sides have previously met 5 times in international matches, with Scotland winning four of the five, despite suffering a shock 1-0 loss back in 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.

As a country, North Macedonia have only ever played in one international tournament, back at Euro 2020, which was seen as a major milestone for the country and have never made it to the World Cup, as they have only been a country for around 35 years after the split of Yugoslavia.

With very few players playing in top international leagues, Scotland should be coasting to a home victory due to the gulf in talent; however, one player to keep an eye on is midfielder Eljif Elmas, currently playing his football in Italy with Atalanta, having helped Napoli win the Serie A back in 2023 and currently has 13 goals for his country. I do feel however, that this should be a fairly comfortable victory for Scotland against a struggling side with a lack of goal-scoring threat.

Prediction: Scotland 3-0 North Macedonia

Mday 6: Switzerland (A)

Scotland’s second game of the break provides a much trickier task, as they will travel to Lucerne to play Switzerland. Last time out did not bode well when Switzerland came to Hampden, as an early Jack Hendry red card turned the match from difficult to nearly impossible, as Switzerland ran riot as 3-0 winners, with goals from a Ricardo Rodriguez free-kick, Nico Elvedi and Zeki Amdouni. The result was a wake-up call for Pocognoli’s side, which brought them back down to earth after the fun but disappointing events of the World Cup. The Tartan Army will be hoping for no silly individual mistakes this time around and will look to right the wrongs of September’s match.

Scotland and Switzerland have met 18 times in an international match, with Scotland winning eight, Switzerland winning six, and the sides playing to four draws. The most notable matches between the two sides took place at the 2024 European Championship, with the sides playing out a 1-1 draw, after goals from Scott McTominay and Xherdan Shaqiri, and Euro 1996, which Scotland won 1-0 after a first-half goal from Ally McCoist.

Switzerland have been one of the most consistent European sides of the 21st century, having not missed a World Cup since the turn of the millennium, and not missing a European Championship since 2012. The recent 2026 World Cup was their best performance to date, defeating Algeria and Colombia on their way to a Quarter-Final exit against eventual finalists Argentina. They have also made the Quarterfinals of the last two Euros, with impressive victories over France and Italy on their way there. The side is made up of many players playing in Europe’s top leagues, including Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye and Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni, as well as Cedric Itten, who will be familiar to Scottish football fans for his time at Rangers. Scotland will have an uphill battle if they want to defeat the Swiss, and I feel the inconsistent scoring will cost us in Lucerne.

Prediction: Switzerland 2-1 Scotland