Lewis Ferguson struggled to watch his Scotland teammates fail to make a positive account of themselves at Euro 2024 - knowing he was helpless in changing their fortunes.
Steve Clarke's side began their European Championship Group A campaign with a humiliating 5-1 loss to hosts, Germany, before producing an improved performance to draw 1-1 against Switzerland in match day two.
That set up a final game versus Hungary where Scotland knew a victory would provide them the opportunity of reaching the knock-out stages for the first time ever.
It wasn't meant to be as the Scots suffered a late blow to exit the competition at a whimper, something that certainly took Ferguson, who was absent from the 26-man squad due to a serious knee injury, by surprise.
"It was difficult having being part of the squad all through qualification," the former Aberdeen midfielder told BBC Sportsound. "We started qualification really well and built up some great momentum and were playing some really good stuff.
"Then, watching the Euros, it was disappointing obviously from being a fan. And, when you see your team-mates struggling, you just want to help and obviously I wasn't able to do that.
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"I don't think anyone expected us to get anything out of the first game, but we still didn't show what we're capable of and that was disappointing.
"But I think the Switzerland game was a massive improvement. Drawing with them was not a bad result considering how good they have been and they are into the latter stages of the competition.
"It was the last game that was the most disappointing because I felt confident in the buildup to that game.
"I was quite calm and quite relaxed thinking that we had a better squad than Hungary, we've got better players, and better individuals. I would like to think we are better as a team.
"I thought we would've gone there and beaten them but it didn't quite work out like that."
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The one-time Hamilton Academical starlet is expected to be high in demand this summer despite his injury setback after a spectacular campaign at Bologna.
Serie A giants, Juventus, are among Ferguson's admirers, but he insists he has no plans to depart the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium anytime soon and that his main focus is returning to full fitness as soon as he can.
"My full focus is just getting back to playing, but I am happy here," he said.
"When you are happy, you play well.
"I settled in pretty quickly out here. I found myself living in a beautiful city, good people, good weather, good food and a great club and, last year, I played the best football I've played in my career."
