Scotland manager Gordon Strachan refused to be reveal where he thought it all went wrong for his team in this qualifying campaign.
Strachan said it would be unfair on his players to analyse the country’s failure to reach Euro 2016 in the hours after the 2-2 draw with Poland at Hampden.
“I’ve got to say that I really can’t be bothered speaking about it just now,” said the national coach.
“I am not going to disguise it.
“I don’t want to speak about it just now.
“For me to sit here and pontificate about what went wrong, it’s unfair to everybody in that dressing room.
“My thoughts are with them at the moment, as well as the coaching staff and everybody who has helped us (get) to a point where we were 2-1 tonight against a top side.”
Strachan also batted away another question asking if he will continue as manager despite the failure to get to France.
He said: “There are guys in there who are hurting and for me to talk about myself is wrong.
“They are the priority at the moment and to talk about me is all wrong.
“We have people in this building hurting at the moment and we need to look after them.”
Strachan was more forthcoming but only just when asked to sum up how he felt when the final whistle blew. Once again, he talked about his team.
“If I am like the rest of the nation then I am hugely disappointed for the players,” he said.
“If I am like the rest of the nation then I have seen a group of lads give as much as they can give.
“So that’s what I see at the moment.
“I actually feel a bit sorry for them because they put so much work in and scored two wonderful goals.
“I have spoken to them and said I am really proud of what they have done.
“I am proud of the players and I am also disappointed for them.
“They have been a bit unfortunate with things over the last couple of games.
“After working hard for a year, at the end of that something like that to happen in the finals seconds.
“There have been a couple of offside goals, a couple of horrendous deflections so we have had to put up with a lot really.
“To overcome that we probably need to be more clinical over the next couple of years.”
The stark reality, though, is that the Scots managed to take only two points from the last 12 available.
That represents a serious collapse in form after all the early optimism in the campaign.
The fans are now left to face a summer at home in front of the TV, while the supporters of the other home nations England, Wales and even Northern Ireland sample the delights of the finals.
The Poles still have the chance to make it and they will now battle it out with the Republic of Ireland to see who gets automatic qualification and who is in the play-off, with Germany still favourites to finish top of the group.
The Polish coach Adam Wanalka said: “I had a lot of faith in my team. Sometimes you feel that a point means more to you than a win that was the case in this game.”