Gordon Strachan refused to discuss his future and offered effusive praise of his players after Scotland’s World Cup hopes were dashed by their failure to beat Slovenia in Ljubljana. The Scots, needing victory to secure a play-off spot, led 1-0 at half-time before conceding two goals to Slovenia with Robert Snodgrass’s late equaliser ultimately immaterial.

Strachan’s contract with the Scottish FA expires at the conclusion of the qualifying campaign, leading to the widespread assumption that the 60-year-old would leave his position as international manager of his own volition. That sense has been clouded somewhat by Scotland forcing themselves into play-off contention after a dismal start in Group F, with some members of Strachan’s squad stating publicly they want him to stay.

Gordon Strachan’s genetics talk is nonsense – Scotland failure rests with him Read more

“You have to ask that question but you know fine well that I’m going to say I’m the last person I’m thinking about now,” said Strachan. “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.

“I’ve been fortunate to have been successful in my own career and get to places. But with all due respect to the lads I played with – some who are my mates now – this group are as good as anything I’ve worked with.

“This group do it for nothing. They do it for their country, their families and the fans. So it’s an honour to work with them and they’re hurting badly. When I look back I think, ‘You have given it a right good shot,’ and they left nothing in the dressing room. Over the last two games especially they gave it everything they had.”

Strachan pointed to the lack of height in the Scottish population as a problem, a matter which will raise eyebrows given the basic level of goals conceded to Slovenia. Organisation, rather than physicality, appeared the key issue.

“Technically we’re fine,” Strachan added. “But our guys have to work harder to get on the ball than bigger lads at six foot three.

“What I do know is that genetically we are behind. In the last campaign we were the second smallest squad 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. Physically we have a problem against the teams we have faced in the last couple of years.”