IT wouldn’t be Scotland at a major football tournament if there wasn’t heartache.

Whether it’s the men’s or women’s team, it tends to end of tears.

But there were tears of joy and pride along the way, with the Tartan Army expressing their gratitude to a side which ended a 23-year exile for the men’s team from international finals.

Croatia’s 3-1 victory at Hampden was a dagger through the heart of supporters, extinguishing any hopes of Scotland making it through the group stages for the first time ever.

Fans, pundits and other high-profile figures have reacted with a mixture of devastation and pride.

Manager Steve Clarke issued a defiant message after the final whistle.

The National: Steve Clarke

He said: “At the moment it’s just disappointment we are out I feel, we wanted to stay in as long as we could. Disappointed we haven’t managed to get out of the group stage. You have to give me tonight to get over that, and then a few days.

“We will all sit down and take stock and look at our performances. I will look at my performance and the performance of the players and we will look at what we can do better in the future. And we’ll make sure it’s not 23 years before we go to the next tournament.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon thanked Clarke’s team for their efforts.

“Not to be, but thank you @ScotlandNT for taking us to our first men’s tournament in 23 years,” she tweeted.

“You’ve played your hearts out and we’ve been proud to cheer you on.”

Iain Emerson, editor of the Famous Tartan Army Magazine, struck a similar chord after the “sickening result”.

He told the Scottish Sun: “It’s devastating that yet again we’ve not managed to make it through. But we can hold our heads up high about how we’ve performed.

“I’m really sad it’s over but the team gave the country such a lift by getting to the Euros.

“It’s been brilliant being back at a big tournament again. We’ll hopefully have the World Cup to look forward to next year if we keep performing well.”

Captain Andy Robertson said his biggest disappointment was not giving the fans a victory to celebrate after playing two of their three games at Hampden.

But he issued a rallying cry to the nation to get behind Scotland, no matter the sport.

He told the BBC: "The love that we've felt from this country has been incredible. Seeing Scotland fans out in people’s windows, seeing so many strips out in the streets and everything when we’re driving to games. That’s amazing.

“I hope that continues for the men’s, the women’s teams for tennis, golf, whatever sport you’re into, because we’re a little country but we do take massive pride in it and that’s been the most emotional thing, especially for me and the boys.

“We’ve loved every minute of it and hopefully come September fans can be back in and we can have a whole Hampden and they can get behind us to try and qualify for a World Cup.”

Although Euro 2020 ultimately resulted in all too familiar heartache for Scotland fans, veteran broadcaster Archie Macpherson said this “wasn’t the same old story” as he paid tribute to the Croatian team and their star Luka Modric.

“It was the same old conclusion but it wasn’t the same old story. Scotland were comprehensively beaten tonight by a much better side, engineered by one of the best midfield players we’ve had in Europe over the last decade.

“In the other games, dating back to 1974 right through to ’98, Scotland were a whisker away from qualifying.”

Tory politicians also gave their thoughts on the game, prompting a mixed response from Twitter users.

Douglas Ross posted: “Gutted. Some great individual performances through the group stages but it wasn’t to be. “Let’s not leave it another 23 years before we experience this again – these tournaments need the Tartan Army!”

Michael Gove, quoting Proclaimers’ Sunshine on Leith, replied: “My heart was broken, my heart was broken, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow.”

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