Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy made no excuses for his side's 2-0 loss to Switzerland in their Euro 2020 qualifier.
The Boys in Green would have qualified with a game to spare if they beat the Swiss but the loss means it all now comes down to their game against Denmark in Dublin next month.
Speaking to Sky Sports at full-time, McCarthy praised their opponents and conceded they simply were outclassed.
"I think everybody who's watched the game will know they're a very good side.
"It's no shock to me, they have good players who have been playing together for a long time.
"They've qualified for seven out of the last eight tournaments, a very good side.
"They were dominant in the first-half, I think we had a second-half we can be proud of."
Ireland went behind after just 16 minutes thanks to a Haris Seferovic strike from outside the box.
McCarthy said Switzerland's positive start was key for them.
"They didn't give us any room to play and we didn't play particularly well - the first half was poor, the second half was good."
Ireland did come into the game more as it went on and the formation was changed midway through the first half.
"I said to them inside if that [playing with wingbacks] wasn't working I'll take the wrap for that. It was done in the best interest of the team, I think it was the right thing to do.
"That didn't cause the goal, that didn't cause us to pass badly and not pass to each other, but changing it back to 4-3-3 certainly settled it down in the first-half and we played better then in the second-half with that system."
McCarthy felt that the side's lack of creativity was ultimately what cost them tonight.
"We haven't scored that many goals, but in the past, we've managed to keep a clean sheet, we didn't today.
"Unfortunately, we are missing our best striker.
"We've a lad making his first debut, his first full start, it was difficult for him but he can be proud, he'll be back an play more.
"We're not creating many chances and scoring enough."
Ireland's chances of automatically qualifying now all come down to a showdown with Denmark at the Aviva Stadium next month.
McCarthy says it's a massive opportunity, one he would have relished at the start of this campaign.
"They beat Switzerland so they'll have momentum.
"It's a cup final in the Aviva on the 18th November. I'd have took that.
"The unlikely thing was that we were going to come here and beat that team.
"We were going to have to play to our absolute maximum, and we didn't.
"They deserved to win, they were the better side.
"We're playing Denmark at home, I'd have took that at the start and I'll take it now.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
