Daily Mirror

THEY PINK IT’S ALL OVER

Strachan’s come up short against the strong men

- FROM KEITH JACKSON in Ljubljana

GORDON STRACHAN bizarrely blamed “genetics” for Scotland’s World Cup nightmare exit.

The Scots had one foot in the playoffs thanks to Leigh Griffiths before the powerful Slovenians roared back with two goals from set-pieces.

And boss Strachan said: “You can’t change our genetics. I can’t just pick the biggest people in Scotland. We’re

fine technicall­y – but our guys have to work harder to get on the ball than bigger lads at 6ft 3in.”

Scotland were unable to cope with their opponents’ physicalit­y after the break – and the manager said: “We were up against a physically stronger side, a side that hadn’t let a goal in here in this campaign.

“But we took the lead. We just knew set-pieces would be a problem and they scored with two of them.”

Strachan, 60, refused to say if his Scotland reign is now over.

His contract is nearly up but he said: “You know fine well that I’m going to say I’m the last person I’m thinking about right now.

“I couldn’t have asked for any more from that group of lads and the group over the last year. I am proud, really proud, to be their manager.”

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 ??  ?? DOWN & OUT Robert Snodgrass collapses in disappoint­ment at the final whistle
DOWN & OUT Robert Snodgrass collapses in disappoint­ment at the final whistle

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