Slo, lingering death of our World Cup dream is

HORRIBLE. Torturous. A Slo and sickening death.

It’s not as if we haven’t been here before. It’s not as if we shouldn’t know to handle it. Yet each passing disappointment seems to get sorer.

They say you should become immune to pain after a while. But when it comes to Scotland the next cut always seems to be the deepest for some unjust reason.

This morning it’s as hard as it’s ever been during these last morale-sapping 19 years of failure. Maybe that’s because there is knowledge this latest exit shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have come to pass.

Gordon Strachan’s team had been flying. Before last night 13 points out of 15 this year. Now we’re six qualifiers unbeaten. Momentum building, energy and enthusiasm were coursing through the squad along with a genuine belief that maybe, just maybe, it would all come right and feel so different.

Leading at half-time through Leigh Griffiths and on the verge we should have known better. Just as the bandwagon was beginning to really roll it smashed off the Road to Russia.

Slovenia became the latest major tournament graveyard. Ousted on goal difference by Slovakia. It tastes this morning even more bitter than on the previous nine times we’ve had to swallow and digest the despair.

Last night in Ljubljana finished it but that’s not what caused it. It was the dreadful start, four points from four games, back in the black days of last year.

Strachan may have learned lessons since, his team and the vibe may have changed in the past 11 months, the outlook for the Tartan Army may be slightly more positive, but for now only darkness surrounds us.

The last shafts of World Cup finals 2018 light were blacked out during an agonising second half that brought two goals for home sub Roman Bezjak.

The first came from a harsh decision by referee Jonas Eriksson – an official Strachan said on TV eight years ago shouldn’t get another major game after another abysmal decision.

Sub Robert Snodgrass’s late leveller wasn’t enough. It almost acted to make it worse. Just one measly goal away as Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar was red-carded on his 100th appearance.

Bezjak was introduced at the break by manager Srecko Katanec – a boss who had already quit – and now the debate rages around the future of the Scotland boss. After two full and failed campaigns Strachan is at a crossroads.

There are those who believe the rehabilitation of the squad which was temporary halted last night has earned him the right for crack at Euro 2020.

However, there are just as many who blame Strachan for putting us in there in the first place.

Last night was deemed not the time for major decisions of the management to be made and that seemed fair. The senses were too blurred, the head too pained to think clearly.

At one stage it was going to happen. At one stage Scotland had the play-off spot in their mitts. By the end it had been ripped away.

It was a desperate way for it to end. The injuries that robbed the manager of midfield trio Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and James Morrison were deeply unhelpful but the squad looked to be finding a way.

Strachan went for two up front in Chris Martin and Griffiths. He named Barry Bannan and Matt Phillips as wide options. The team selection suggested positivity.

But it just wasn’t enough after a dramatic evening that crackled as soon as it began. There hadn’t even been a minute played when Josip Ilicic cracked in a shot.

Kieran Tierney was booked for decking Benjamin Verbic, a Tim Matavz strike was pushed away by Craig Gordon and Jason Kurtic had a couple of efforts from the edge of the box.

Martin’s shot held by home keeper Jan Oblak was the first real threat from Scotland with 17 on the clock and you could almost touch the tension, see it in first touches and decisions made.

For all the likes of Darren Fletcher and Andrew Robertson had looked at it there were others who appeared just off it. As it ticked beyond half an hour the Scots had bedded themselves into the tie. Now they sought a lift, some impetus before the break.

They got more than that. They got a cherished opening goal for an interval advantage and it was a special finish from Griffiths.

Fletcher got it going with a cross towards the far post which was partially cleared. James McArthur did superbly to win a 50-50 header to keep the attack alive and Griffiths was first on to the bouncing ball.

The angle was acute but the striker’s technique was as wonderful as the sight of the ball slamming into the net from the half volley.

For the first time in 392 minutes in the section Slovenia had been breached at home and Griffiths had irked them. The centre-backs double-tagged him and left him in a heap moments later.

Oblak broke a bone in the striker’s back at Hampden seven months previously but they couldn’t keep him down. Halfway was reached – 45 minutes from glory. Now it was about seeing it through.

It was almost cruelty to have it COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTL