Scotland vs North Macedonia. UEFA Nations League Group B1. Match report as John McGinn scores twice in Scotland’s win over North Macedonia at Hampden; Aston Villa midfielder gives hosts lead after McTominay and Gilmour go close; Rastoder’s header levels scoring; McGinn penalty seals win after Gannon-Doak fouled; Scotland face Switzerland next John McGinn’s double rescued Scotland as they toiled to a 2-1 win over North Macedonia to keep their Nations League promotion hopes alive. The hosts were booed off at half-time with the game goalless but there was a sense of relief – rather than joy – at the final whistle after McGinn’s penalty secured the three points after Elmin Rastoder’s header cancelled out the Aston Villa midfielder’s opener.
The win means Scotland can still finish second in Group B1 after Slovenia were held by Switzerland, but will have to win in St Gallen on Monday and hope North Macedonia do them a favour in their final game. Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli secured his first win at Hampden on a night when skipper Andy Robertson earned his 102nd cap to equal the appearance record held by Sir Kenny Dalglish. The returning Scott McTominay nearly grabbed an opener after 16 minutes but he was denied by Stole Dimitrievski in the North Macedonia goal after turning and shooting sharply. The keeper then denied Che Adams and McTominay again before the Napoli midfielder attempted to recreate his famous Denmark overhead kick to no avail.
Boos rang around Hampden as the players trudged off at the interval and Billy Gilmour did little to lift the collective mood straight after the break when he fired over with the goal gaping following good work by Adams. Scotland did take the lead soon after, however, Adams outmuscling his North Macedonian counterpart to set the onrushing McGinn away into the box before he curled his effort into the net. Rastoder stunned Hampden less than three minutes later, leaping highest to glance his header past Angus Gunn from a corner, but Dimitrievski went from hero to villain with a little over 15 minutes remaining, bringing down Ben Gannon-Doak when the winger seemed to be running the ball out of play. A VAR review followed, allowing McGinn to step up and deliver a first win in Glasgow for Pocognoli, but it is a performance that will raise more questions than answers. 16: BIG SAVE!
Scott McTominay controls the ball with his back to the goal, then turns sharply and shoots but Stole Dimitrievski gets down well to his left and keeps it out. 22: OVER! Andy Robertson delivers a free-kick into the box but Kieran Tierney’s header loops over the bar. 27: SAVE! John McGinn’s corner is met by Che Adams at the front post before his header takes a big deflection. It looks like it’s heading in but Dimitrievski is equal to it again. 35: OVER!
McTominay tries an acrobatic effort with an overhead kick but it sails over the bar and out of play. 39: MCTOMINAY DENIED! The ball is threaded into the feet of McTominay and he shoots from a tight angle but the goalkeeper makes another save to keep it level! 46: HOW HAS HE MISSED?! Adams capitalises on a loose back pass and squares the ball to Billy Gilmour. All he has to do is guide it on target and it is a goal but he skies it over the bar! 54: GOAL!
Adams outmuscles the defender before poking the ball forward allowing McGinn to race onto it before curling the opener into the back of the net. 57: GOAL! North Macedonia shock Scotland with a quickfire equaliser. The corner is whipped into the box and Rastoder is there to glance it into the bottom corner. 75: GOAL! McGinn scores from the spot to restore Scotland’s lead Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Scotland head coach Sebastian Pocognoli: “I’m happy to get the first win at home.
It’s important and we knew before the game that it will help to build a winning culture. “In terms of what we produced on the pitch, I know exactly what we worked on this week. I’m quite satisfied about what I saw in some moments of the game, the work on the ball and off the ball. “It was not always perfect, but I know that what we worked on in the last two days happened many times on the pitch.
And for me that’s very important. On top of that, we created a lot of chances that we should score. “Off the ball, I think we were quite aggressive. We recovered a number of balls that we managed well in some moments of transition.
We created a big chance for Billy (Gilmour) from this also. So that’s a new approach of the game. Not everything was perfect, but there was a lot to take to move forward. “After the first goal, I think we need to learn to not drop the intensity.
Because after the first goal, for five minutes, I really feel like we dropped the intensity and the focus. And we conceded a goal from a set-piece. And I had the same feeling after the second goal. So, it’s something that we need to fix.” Scotland captain Andy Robertson speaking to BBC Sport: “I thought we showed glimpses of good stuff.
We tried to be patient on the ball, tried to keep the ball, I think we did that well at times, but also at times it broke down because the quality wasn’t there at times so we’re still trying to piece it all together. “It’s a different way of playing and that’s what we are working on in the training ground. It wasn’t always perfect, but no international game is easy and we’re all delighted in the changing room to get that win and hopefully other people have a smile on their face too. “Every formation can be played differently, there are so many different variations of this formation.
We’re trying to implement what the manager and coaches want us to do on the training ground and we’re working really hard. “Yes, it’s not going to be perfect right away but everything is working towards us going into the qualifiers for the Euros. We’re still trying to learn it and we believe in what the manager is trying to teach us to do and we have to be patient with that. “I know people don’t see us train and see the work we’re doing in the background, so I can get why people are frustrated but there is an idea behind what we are doing and like you say at times we lacked that quality.
“Obviously the Slovenia at home game made it unrealistic, or tougher [to qualify]. We’ll go over to Monday and we’ll give everything we can to win that game. We’re in a position where we have to rely on other results.” On equaling Dalglish’s appearance record: “It feels amazing for me and my family, it’s an amazing achievement. I’ve been around here for a long time.
I’ve had highs, I’ve had lows, I’ve sometimes had praise and had criticism.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player John McGinn to Sky Sports on Andy Robertson’s record-equalling night: “Amazing – he deserves everything that is coming his way. The biggest credit I can give him is that he is always available, always willing to help his country. Whether he is at 60, 70, 80 per cent, or 100. “I’m sure Monday will be a special occasion for him but he’ll give the boring answer that it will only be special if we get three points.” It will be a night that Andy Robertson never forgets but a game most Scotland fans will blank from their collective memories fairly quickly.
The skipper equalled Sir Kenny Dalglish’s record of 102 caps but it was fellow Scotland stalwart John McGinn who spared the home side’s blushes on a drab evening in Glasgow. Scotland looked slow in their build-up, even if there were first-half chances, but when the goal finally did come the floodgates did not open. Instead, North Macedonia, who hadn’t scored since November 18, 2025, equalised and could have gone in front. The natives were understandably restless but were ultimately relieved when Stole Dimitrievski clumsily brought down Gannon-Doak, allowing McGinn to be the hero again.
The Aston Villa captain was quick to remind everyone that a new style takes time to bed in and that is true. Scotland are moving away from the comforts and success of the Steve Clarke era, but questions will be asked of Pocognoli’s insistence on using wing-backs and one upfront at home with a comfortable win expected. Scotland have something to play for when they travel to Switzerland for their final Group B1 game, with promotion still up for grabs. Robertson should play on Monday to become Scotland’s most-capped player outright.
How sweet it would be if his 103rd appearance for his country was a winning one. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.
