Jack Hendry knows the nation is on a major downer after missing out on the World Cup.
But the defender’s hoping the Tartan Army can put a collective arm around the squad to get the show back on the road.
Hendry admits the players are feeling just as downbeat as the rest of the country in the wake of Wednesday’s desperately disappointing play-off semi-final defeat to Ukraine.
It’s the hope that kills you. Scotland fans felt their time had come and the agonising 24-year wait to return to the grand stage of a World Cup Finals was over.
But the night fell flat as Steve Clarke’s men couldn’t recapture the energy shown in thrilling recent wins against Serbia, Israel, Austria and Denmark.
The Euros last summer whetted the appetite but Wednesday night left us thirsty for more.
Hendry is convinced Scotland will get back to the big time – and he’s hoping the supporters will stay on board to help drive them there.
The title winning Club Brugge ace said: “I am confident this group can reach major tournaments. We showed it by getting to the Euros.
“The other night was a one-off game and we came off second best – we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“I think we did extremely well to get out of the group and get to that stage. Now we have to make sure if we get to this point again we win it.
“This is a talented group and I understand the country is feeling extremely disappointed.
“But everyone – not just the team – will need to get around us and get us back up and on to the next qualification challenge.”
The Ukraine pain remains though. Hendry admitted he can’t put a finger on what went wrong on a night that promised so much.
We all knew the visitors’ back story and the incredible motivation they had to deliver some positivity in their homeland.
But it was like the occasion proved to be too much for the Scots as they froze when they needed to turn up the heat.
Hendry said: “It is difficult to say what happened. Emotions were high after the game and we spent a few days picking apart what went wrong.
“The group is extremely low at the moment but we have to learn from the other night. We need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It will be a difficult learning curve but with the talent we have in the squad we have to learn from it.
“It’s difficult to say whether the emotions of the night played a part. The boys in the squad have played in big games with high expectations.
“It was a massive game, there’s no getting away from what was at stake but I don’t know if you can say that was the reason for a poor performance.”
Scotland’s morale is on the floor but they can’t afford to wallow. The Nations League might require a degree in math to work out but it’s a simple equation for countries like ours.
This is another possible route to the Euros and while games against Armenia and Republic of Ireland at the end of a long, hard season, might be a hard sell, Scotland can’t afford to be sniffy.
Hendry said: “As a player you just want the next game to come around as soon as possible to get over the other night.
“You have extremely low moments but you can’t allow yourself to get too low.
“We need to look forward to the next one and rectify it with a good performance and result.
“We know how important the Nations League can be. I’m sure it will be mentioned in the next few days that this was what got us to the Euros the last time.
“It’s extremely important to us. We want to finish top of the group and push to qualify for another tournament and get in to Pot A. That’s an ambition for the boys as well, so there is a lot at stake.”
Hendry will get back on the the rollercoaster after a dizzying few months. The former Celtic centre-back was a star man for Brugge in the Champions League but boss Phillipe Clement departed and there was a minor tiff with the new man in charge Alfred Schreuder.
Hendry had a grumble about his gaffer during the last international break and was forced to spend a few weeks on the naughty step before returning to the side for the run in.
A goal in the final-day win against Antwerp that delivered the title was a sweet feeling before Schreuder headed to Ajax to replace Man United bound Erik Ten Hag.
Hendry was desperate to add World Cup joy to the domestic bliss but it wasn’t to be.
He said: “I went though a difficult stage there for a month or so, not playing at Brugge. I’ve played 45 games this season so it’s probably the most I’ve played in a campaign.
“From not playing for a wee bit to getting back in to the team and scoring the goal to win the league was amazing.
“It was a shame I couldn’t have added to that the other night as my main goal was to help take Scotland to a World Cup.
“I can still achieve that – this group can still achieve it.”
“It’s like club football. You can’t get too low and you have to wait for the opportunity to come around and then take it.
“I was proud of achieving a winners’ medal as a Scottish lad over there. It just makes you hungry to achieve more. That’s why the other night was so disappointing.”
