Strach: We’re losing physical battle because of national DNA

GORDON Strachan today refused to discuss his future as Scotland manager after his side drew 2-2 with Slovenia and failed to secure a Russia 2018 play-off spot on goal difference.

The national team needed to triumph in their final Group F fixture in the Skozice Stadium here in Ljubljana to finish runners-up in their section.

A Robert Snodgrass goal with two minutes remaining levelled a match the home team, who had scored twice at set-pieces in the second half, had dominated.

But their attempts to net a late winner in four minutes of injury-time were in vain and they ended up being edged out of second place by Slovakia who beat Malta 3-0 in Trnava.

Strachan has been in charge for four and a half years and has failed to reach both the Euro 2016 and Russia 2018 finals during that time.

Some members of the Tartan Army are now keen to see the 60-yearold, who was only contracted until the end of this World Cup campaign, stand down.

However, the former Coventry City, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough boss declined to talk about his own position.

“You know fine well I’m the last person I’m thinking about now,” he said.

“Players, staff and family – I want to make sure they’re all right. The players’ families have backed them up and everything else.

“So we are looking after them at the moment. Me? It’s not a problem. I am proud, really proud, to be their manager.”

“We have to go away and analyse. I just get on the plane, have a cup of tea, get home and see how it goes after that. But I can go away knowing that group of lads and the group that has worked over the last year, I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Strachan added: “It’s an honour to work with these guys. At this moment it’s big disappointment, but my disappointment if nothing compared to the players.

“You saw them at the end of the game. I don’t think I’ve seen a group of players as exhausted after a match.

“I think some of them pushed themselves to places they didn’t think they could actually go.”

Strachan, whose side had taken the lead in the first half through Leigh Griffiths, blamed “genetics” for Scotland being unable to qualify for their first major tournament finals since France ’98.

He added: “Genetically, we are behind. In the last campaign we were the second smallest behind Spain.

“That means that I had to pick a team tonight to try and combat their height and strength. Even at that, we couldn’t combat their height and strength at set plays.

“Genetically, we have to work at things. It is a problem for us. We have to fight harder for every ball and jump higher because it is easier for these type of guys.

“Nobody can tell me their technique, apart from one player, is better than any of ours. Physically, we have a problem against the teams we have faced in the last couple of years.

“We seem to be able to fight it and battle it and get throw just on sheer determination and skill and work rate and that takes a lot out of you.

“These guys have put so much into this. I really do feel for them. But they can also feel really pleased w i th them - selves?”