An apocalypse was scarcely avoided at the weekend as Scotland failed to join Wales and Northern Ireland in qualifying for next year’s European Championships in France.
As their fellow home nations booked their places in a major tournament for the first time that anyone can remember, a Scottish qualification would have kept the prospect of an end to life on Earth as we know it very much alive.
However, a last-gasp Poland equaliser from Robert Lewandowski broke Tartan Army hearts and scuppered any chance of a culmination of events that it was foretold would bring about the end of the world.
Speaking exclusively to Football Burp, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan remained philosophical.
He said: “Obviously the lads are gutted that we’ve not qualified.
“On the other hand, if we had qualified then the world would have ended, so we wouldn’t have got to go to France anyway.
“It’s a funny old game.”