SCOTLAND LEGEND GRAEME SOUNESS URGES POCOGNOLI TO BUILD HIS TEAM AROUND ONE UNEXPECTED STAR WHO WAS AN ABSOLUTE BEAST IN SCOTLAND’S 2-1 WIN OVER NORTH MACEDONIA!

Graeme Souness has never been one to hold back. And when the Scotland legend speaks, Hampden listens.

After Scotland’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over North Macedonia on Friday night, Souness has urged national team boss Sebastien Pocognoli to build his side around one unexpected star who produced an “absolute beast” of a performance.

And it is NOT who you think it is.

Everyone is talking about John McGinn. Of course they are. The Aston Villa captain scored both goals. He got Scotland out of jail. He rescued Pocognoli. He moved to 24 international goals, level with Hughie Gallacher as joint-third on Scotland’s all-time scoring list.

But Souness says if you only watched the goals, you missed the real story of the night.

The real story was at the back. The real story was the man who defended like his life depended on it. The real story was Ryan Porteous.

THE NIGHT SCOTLAND ALMOST BLEW IT

Let us be honest about this game. It was not pretty. It was not comfortable. It was not the kind of performance that makes you dream about the World Cup.

Scotland were booed off at half-time with the game goalless. Visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied the Scots three times in the first half and Billy Gilmour missed an open goal from eight yards.

John McGinn broke down the North Macedonia rearguard in the 54th minute — only for the visitors to level through striker Elmin Rastoder three minutes later.

It took a VAR review, a clumsy challenge from Dimitrievski on Ben Gannon-Doak, and a McGinn penalty in the 73rd minute to give Pocognoli his first home win as Scotland head coach.

Scotland moved on to seven points from five fixtures, one point behind second-placed Slovenia. The aim of the runners-up place which brings a promotion play-off spot is still alive, but only just.

Scotland must now win in Switzerland on Monday and hope North Macedonia do them a favour against Slovenia.

That is the reality. And that is why Souness is so angry — and so clear — about what Pocognoli must do next.

SOUNESS: “HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE BEAST”

Speaking in the studio after the game, Souness did not talk about McGinn first. He talked about Porteous.

“That was a proper defensive performance,” Souness said. “He was an absolute beast. He defended his box, he won his duels, he cleared his lines, he made things happen. He was everything you want from a centre-half in a game like that.”

The player in question was handed a surprise start by Pocognoli and repaid his manager’s faith with a commanding, no-nonsense display that left Souness purring.

He won his headers, made crucial blocks, stepped out of defence with purpose, and produced a goal-line clearance in the second half that proved decisive.

Then Souness named the player directly.

“Porteous was the man,” Souness confirmed. “He was outstanding. He defended like his life depended on it. He organised the back line. He led by example. And that’s what Scotland needs. That’s what Scotland has been missing.”

WHY PORTEOUS? WHY NOW?

For years, Scotland fans have complained about the same thing: too soft at the back. Too nice. Too easy to bully. Too easy to score against from a set-piece — exactly how Rastoder scored on Friday night.

Porteous is the opposite of soft.

He is aggressive. He is loud. He is front-foot. He does not wait for the striker to make a move — he makes the first move. He does not hide. He does not go missing when the crowd starts booing. He gets louder.

That is why Souness believes he is the key to Pocognoli’s rebuild.

“I’ve been critical of Pocognoli in the past. I’ve questioned some of his decisions. But I’ll give him credit where it’s due — he got this one right. He brought Porteous back into the squad, he gave him a start, and the boy delivered. That’s what management is about. Seeing something in a player that others might miss.”

Porteous started alongside Luke Graham and Kieran Tierney in Pocognoli’s back three at Hampden. While Tierney pushed forward and Graham learned on the job, Porteous was the anchor. The organiser. The voice.

He did not just defend well himself. He made others defend well. He organised the back line. He brought the best out of those around him. He led by example.

And that’s why Souness is saying Pocognoli should build the team around him.

“BUILD YOUR TEAM AROUND HIM”

The Scotland legend was asked directly whether he believed Pocognoli should now build his team around Porteous, and his response was emphatic.

“Absolutely. Without a shadow of a doubt. You build your team around players who deliver in the big moments. Players who show character, who show fight, who show quality. And Porteous showed all of that and more against North Macedonia. He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. And if Pocognoli has any sense, he’ll make him the cornerstone of this Scotland defence going forward.”

Think about what that means.

Souness is not saying Porteous is the most talented player in the squad. He is not saying he is better than McGinn, or McTominay, or Andy Robertson, or Ben Gannon-Doak.

He is saying something deeper: Scotland needs an identity. Scotland needs a spine. Scotland needs someone who will set the tone when things go wrong.

When Hampden was booing at half-time, Porteous did not hide. When North Macedonia equalised and the stadium went silent, Porteous did not drop his head. He went again. He won the next header. He made the next block. He shouted at the next man to get into position.

That is leadership. That is character. That is what Souness had as a player at Liverpool and Scotland. And that is what he sees in Porteous.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MONDAY IN SWITZERLAND

This is where it gets serious.

Scotland go to St Gallen on Monday to face Switzerland. The Swiss have already won Group B1. They have nothing to play for — except pride.

Scotland have everything to play for. Win, and hope Slovenia slip up against North Macedonia, and Scotland finish second. Lose or draw, and the Nations League campaign ends in disappointment.

If Pocognoli listens to Souness, Porteous starts again. No debate. No rotation. No experiment. He starts, he leads, he organises.

And around him, Pocognoli builds a team that is harder to beat, harder to bully, and harder to break down.

Because the truth is this: McGinn can win you a game with two moments of magic. Robertson can win you a game with a cross. Gannon-Doak can win you a game with pace.

But Porteous can stop you from LOSING a game. And for Scotland right now, that might be even more important.

THE VERDICT

John McGinn was the hero on the scoresheet. Ryan Porteous was the hero in the trenches.

Souness saw it. The Tartan Army saw it. Now the question is: will Pocognoli see it too?

One game does not make a career. One performance does not make you a legend. But one performance can change a manager’s mind. One performance can change a team’s future.

Porteous took his chance against North Macedonia. Now Souness says Pocognoli must reward him — not just with another start, but with the keys to the defence.

Build around him. Trust him. Let him lead.

Because if Scotland are going to survive in Switzerland, and if they are going to build something real for the 2028 Euros, they are going to need a beast at the back.

And on Friday night at Hampden, they found one.

Do you agree with Souness? Should Pocognoli build Scotland around Ryan Porteous, or is John McGinn still the main man? Drop your starting XI for Switzerland in the comments.