A back three that had previously appeared assured was relentlessly pressured, with composure giving way to uncertainty. Scotland’s usual leaders failed to take control.
Robertson admitted his side had been beaten in the physical battle, a particularly revealing assessment. Determination should be the simplest quality to deliver because it does not depend on technical ability.
Scotland had enjoyed a comfortable evening in Skopje on Saturday because North Macedonia offered little resistance. They scored twice but could easily have finished with five or six goals.
Perhaps the players had started to believe the praise surrounding them. That seems unlikely after a victory over modest opposition, yet Scotland’s lack of intensity on Tuesday makes the question unavoidable.
The tactical setup may also have been responsible. Slovenia identified its weaknesses and exploited them with devastating effectiveness.
Pocognoli clearly requires more time. He needs his most dangerous attacking midfielder, Scott McTominay, operating centrally and must use additional training sessions to ensure the squad fully understands his ideas.
His next opportunity comes in November, with a trip to Switzerland followed by a home match against North Macedonia. There is almost no room left for mistakes after Scotland wasted the chance to collect a valuable seven points from four fixtures.
The head coach must recover from this setback. The performance will have taught him plenty about his squad while leaving him with several important decisions to consider.
The early period of optimism has ended. The response from the Hampden crowd at full time made it clear that the first serious signs of tension have emerged.
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