Scotland's 3-0 Hampden defeat to Switzerland raises questions over Angus Gunn for Pocognoli

Scotland lost 3-0 to Switzerland at Hampden in their Nations League match on 30 September 2026, with an 11th-minute red card for Jack Hendry and scrutiny of Angus Gunn's goalkeeping performance coming under the spotlight in Sebastien Pocognoli's first home game.

The San Jose Earthquakes stopper, 30, was judged by some to be at fault for the first and third goals as Switzerland established control after Hendry's dismissal for denying Dan Ndoye a goalscoring opportunity. Referee Nenad Minakovic initially awarded a penalty that was downgraded to a free-kick following a VAR review, from which Ricardo Rodriguez scored; Nico Elvedi and Zeki Amdouni added the other goals.

Hendry was shown a straight red in the 11th minute for denying Dan Ndoye a goalscoring opportunity, which triggered the VAR review and the change from a penalty to a free-kick on the edge of the box. Ricardo Rodriguez "smashed the set-piece past Gunn on the goalkeeper's side to open the scoring," according to the match report.

Nico Elvedi doubled Switzerland's lead by turning home Ndoye's cross, and Zeki Amdouni rifled a shot that went through Gunn's arms and high into the net to make it 3-0. Former Scotland forward James McFadden said: "I know it's a powerful strike, but that's one that Angus Gunn can keep out."

Gunn produced "a couple of smart saves from Ndoye either side of half-time" that prevented Switzerland from wrapping the game up earlier, and the goalkeeper acknowledged he would review the goals. He told media: "They were good strikes but, as a goalkeeper, I'm always disappointed when I concede a goal," and added: "[For the first goal] obviously when you've got a free-kick that close, you want to protect your side. I was holding as much as I could and saw it late. I'll probably look back at it. "I'll probably be disappointed and try and get better for next time."

Sportsound pundit Andy Halliday was critical of Gunn's showing, saying: "I've never been a big defender of goalkeepers and I'm looking for more from Angus Gunn." Halliday added: "Shoulder height and not a lot of pace," and delivered a longer assessment: "I don't think there's somebody that's battering the door down to take his jersey because a lot of them aren't playing football," said Halliday. "He probably is the number one deservedly but you never feel as confident with Angus Gunn between the sticks as you would have done a Craig Gordon, an Allan McGregor, a David Marshall, a Jim Leighton, an Andy Goram. They have been our goalies for the last 20-25 years. "I'm looking at the first and the third goal - and I might be in the minority for the third goal, I think a lot of people will think it's been hit with such pace - but the goalies I mentioned there, do they save them? I think they do."

Gunn started all three of Scotland's World Cup games ahead of Liam Kelly and Craig Gordon, with Gordon having made the World Cup squad at the age of 43, and Falkirk's Scott Bain has replaced the retired Gordon in the squad for this Nations League campaign; commentators noted Scotland may not be as well supplied in the goalkeeping department as in previous years.

Pocognoli must now decide whether to retain Gunn for Scotland's next fixtures, which are against North Macedonia on Saturday and Slovenia on Tuesday.