{"id":5382,"date":"2026-09-23T10:53:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5382"},"modified":"2026-09-23T10:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:53:47","slug":"luis-binks-scotland-was-always-the-one-for-me-brondby-defender-determined-to-make-mark-in-first-squad-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5382","title":{"rendered":"Luis Binks: ‘Scotland was always the one for me’ – Brondby defender determined to make mark in first squad | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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“I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years, and now the opportunity has come. I’m just really proud.”<\/p>\n

Defender Luis Binks has played at under-21 level for both Scotland and England, but insisted he did not hesitate when new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli said he wanted him in his first squad.<\/p>\n

The Brondby captain is one of six players handed their first full call-ups for the Nations League games against Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland.<\/p>\n

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Pocognoli has said he will not beg players to choose Scotland, something the 25-year-old agrees with.<\/p>\n

“I think if he had to try and convince me, convince anyone, it’s probably not the right thing for the player,” Binks told Sky Sports News.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t need any convincing; I was available.<\/p>\n

“I wanted to play for Scotland. I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years and now the opportunity has come, I’m just really proud.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Robbie\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Robbie Ure (L) and Luis Binks are two of the new faces in the Scotland squad
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“It’s where you feel your heart is and where you want to go. This was the route I wanted to take.”<\/p>\n

It is a new-look Scotland under Pocognoli with 12 players who were in Steve Clarke’s final squad for the World Cup missing out, only Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams through injury.<\/p>\n

And while it’s a new environment for Binks, there are some familiar faces within the camp.<\/p>\n

“It was a few years ago that I was with Aaron Hickey in Bologna and he got called up while we were there.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Aaron\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Aaron Hickey has 22 caps for Scotland
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“I could play for the 21s at the time and nothing ever coming up but it was always, Scotland was always the one for me that I wanted to go and play for.<\/p>\n

“Going back years ago, under 16s when I went away with Scotland, the vibe was just so good.<\/p>\n

“It felt like a proper team, it was just normal lads and you felt like you were playing with your mates so I knew there was always that feeling around it. I wanted to go and be a part of that again.”<\/p>\n

The Pocognoli era officially gets underway in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a game against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.<\/p>\n

The squad then fly to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on October 6.<\/p>\n

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\n \"The\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n The Scotland players are training in La Manga ahead of their Nations League opener
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Scotland were demoted from Nations League A after a play-off defeat by Greece last year and return to the second tier for this year’s competition.<\/p>\n

“Obviously we want to get to the A group of the Nations League but there are a lot of new faces, a lot of new management, new ways of playing,” Binks added.<\/p>\n

“I know what it’s like because I’ve got a new manager at my club now and it’s taking a bit of time so I imagine it’s the same sort of process here.<\/p>\n

“It’s just about getting the players on board and buying into everything the manager wants to do.<\/p>\n

“It’s been early days, but I think everyone is fully on board and believes in what we can do as a country.”<\/p>\n

Scotland squad in full:<\/h3>\n

Goalkeepers: <\/strong>Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)<\/p>\n

Defenders: <\/strong>Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)<\/p>\n

Midfielders: <\/strong>Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers)<\/p>\n

Forwards: <\/strong>Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts)<\/p>\n

Scotland’s Nations League fixtures<\/a><\/h3>\n

Slovenia vs Scotland – September 26, kick-off 2pm<\/p>\n

Scotland vs Switzerland – September 29, kick-off 7.45pm<\/p>\n

N. Macedonia vs Scotland – October 3, kick-off 7.45pm<\/p>\n

Scotland vs Slovenia – October 6, kick-off 7.45pm<\/p>\n

Scotland vs N. Macedonia – November 13, kick-off 7.45pm<\/p>\n

Switzerland vs Scotland – November 16, kick-off 7.45pm<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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