Scotland weigh goalkeeper change after Switzerland defeat
Scotland's 3-0 home loss to Switzerland raises questions about goalkeeper Angus Gunn's position ahead of Nations League matches.
Scotland's first home match under head coach Sebastien Pocognoli ended in a 3-0 defeat by Switzerland at Hampden, a result overshadowed by Jack Hendry's 11th-minute red card for denying Dan Ndoye a goalscoring opportunity. The dismissal forced Scotland to play most of the game with ten men and set the tone for a difficult evening.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn, 30, who plays for San Jose Earthquakes, faced criticism for his role in two of the three goals. After a VAR review turned an initial penalty into a free-kick on the edge of the box, Ricardo Rodriguez scored the opener past Gunn. Nico Elvedi doubled the lead from Ndoye's cross, and Zeki Amdouni's powerful strike went through Gunn's arms for the third. Pundit Andy Halliday said on Sportsound that he expected more from Gunn, calling the first goal 'so poor,' while former Scotland forward James McFadden insisted the third was saveable.
Gunn acknowledged his disappointment, telling media he would review the goals to see where he could improve. He noted the difficulty of the free-kick, saying he tried to protect his side but saw the ball late, and vowed to get better for the next game.
The performance has sparked debate about whether Pocognoli will change goalkeeper for the upcoming Nations League matches against North Macedonia on Saturday and Slovenia on Tuesday. Gunn started all three of Scotland's World Cup games ahead of Liam Kelly and Craig Gordon, but Gordon's retirement and the lack of other options have left the team without the deep goalkeeping pool of previous eras. Falkirk's Scott Bain has joined the squad, though Halliday suggested no one is pressing hard for the jersey because many contenders are not playing regularly.
Halliday added that while Gunn is probably the deserved number one, he does not inspire the same confidence as former Scotland keepers like Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor, David Marshall, Jim Leighton, and Andy Goram. Supporters may share that sentiment, but the decision now rests with Pocognoli as Scotland seek to recover from a disappointing start.
