Alex MacQuoid
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Scotland host Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the predicted lineups for both sides raise a genuine selection question before a ball is kicked. Scotland’s group includes two squad members marked unavailable in the data, while Slovenia’s squad news is clean, so the shape of Sébastien Pocognoli’s XI is the more interesting puzzle here. Below are the expected XIs for each side, built from recent starting patterns rather than any official team sheet.
Scotland Predicted Lineup
Scotland are projected in a 3-4-1-2, which lines up with Sébastien Pocognoli’s preferred formation according to the data. It is a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match, underlining how little rotation this group has seen across the matches used for this projection. Angus Gunn has started all three of the recent games tracked here and looks the clear choice in goal, while further forward Ben Gannon-Doak has only one start from the same three matches, making him the shakiest pick in an otherwise consistent XI.
Scotland predicted XI: Angus Gunn; Scott Mckenna, Luis Binks, Stephen Welsh; Andrew Robertson, John McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour, Ben Gannon-Doak; Oliver McBurnie, Kieron Bowie
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Angus Gunn | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 26 | Scott Mckenna | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Luis Binks | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Stephen Welsh | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 3 | Andrew Robertson | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | John McGinn | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 19 | Lewis Ferguson | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Billy Gilmour | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 17 | Ben Gannon-Doak | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 9 | Oliver McBurnie | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| F | 20 | Kieron Bowie | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Predicted Slovenia Line-up
Slovenia are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1, matching Bostjan Cesar’s preferred formation in the data provided. This, too, is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match – which points to a coach largely trusting the same group match to match. Jan Oblak has started every one of the last three games used for this projection and is the automatic choice between the posts, while Mark Zabukovnik’s single start in the same window makes him the most uncertain name in the expected XI.
Slovenia predicted XI: Jan Oblak; Žan Karničnik, Jaka Bijol, Erik Janža, Vanja Drkusic; Danijel Sturm, Sandi Lovric, Aljosa Matko, Adam Gnezda Čerin, Mark Zabukovnik; Zan Vipotnik
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Jan Oblak | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Žan Karničnik | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 6 | Jaka Bijol | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 13 | Erik Janža | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 21 | Vanja Drkusic | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 15 | Danijel Sturm | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Sandi Lovric | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Aljosa Matko | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 22 | Adam Gnezda Čerin | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 4 | Mark Zabukovnik | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 18 | Zan Vipotnik | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
For Scotland, no absentees are recorded in the data, though the squad listing does flag entries as unavailable without naming the players involved, so any specific detail on who they are or which line is thinned sits outside what can be confirmed here. On the bench, Jack Hendry arrives with two starts in the recent run tracked for this projection, giving him the strongest recent case of anyone in reserve to step into the back line if required.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Shankland | injured | Torn thigh muscle | |
| Che Adams | injured | Adductor injury |
Slovenia’s team news is more straightforward: no absentees are recorded in the data, leaving Bostjan Cesar with a full group to pick from. Among the back-ups, David Brekalo has two starts in the matches used for this projection, making him the bench option with the clearest recent path into the XI should a change be needed.
How We Predict These XIs
Each predicted lineup here is built from the last three line-ups available for that team, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones so current form shapes the projection more than results from further back. Any player confirmed as injured or suspended is removed from contention before the XI is assembled. This is a projection, not a team announcement, and it will be updated once the official lineup is confirmed closer to kick-off.
Read Also: Scotland vs Slovenia Prediction: 06.10.2026 UEFA Nations League 2026/27
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Scotland vs Slovenia?
Angus Gunn is projected in goal for Scotland, having started all three of the recent matches used for this projection, while Jan Oblak is expected to continue for Slovenia on the same basis.
What formation will Scotland and Slovenia line up in?
Scotland are projected in a 3-4-1-2, and Slovenia in a 4-2-3-1, both matching their respective coach’s preferred formation in the data.
Who is unavailable for Scotland vs Slovenia?
Scotland’s data lists unavailable squad entries without naming the players, and no absentees are recorded for Slovenia.
When do Scotland play Slovenia?
The match kicks off on Tuesday 6 October 2026 in the UEFA Nations League.