McLeish in rant at ref after free-kick controversy ruins the dream

It was the Spaniard and his assistant who blighted the Scots when they decided to give Italy a contentious free-kick in the final moments of this Group B tie.

Gonzalez and his assistant awarded a free-kick to Italy when Giorgio Chiellini challenged Scotland defender Alan Hutton. It looked to be a foul on the Scot but instead it was presented to the Italians.

From Andrea Pirlo's cross Christian Panucci headed Italy's winner, consigning the Scots to third place behind France and the Italians.

McLeish, looking dejected at having to explain another "glorious failure" for Scotland, said: "We didn't deserve to lose and to lose like that was wrong. It was a poor decision by Gonzalez. I just can't understand why he gave it. It was his assistant who worked against us. It was unbelievable.

"I'm so sorry and disappointed for the players now and their fans, for everyone throughout the country who has backed us.

"Big teams get the 50-50 decisions. The Scotlands of this world have to be brilliant to survive. You have to be exceptional to overcome that. There are referees who won't be fazed by it. Well, Gonzalez is a top referee. He gave them the 50-50s and a lot were unjust. It was the assistant who gave the free. There was nothing we could do."

The Scots were demoralised after conceding from Italy striker Luca Toni after 70 seconds. Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson equalised in the 64th minute in what was a lifeline goal. If it had stayed that way Scotland would have needed Ukraine to beat France on Wednesday for them to go through. But Gonzalez's decision ended all hope of Scotland making it to their first finals since the 1998 World Cup.

Italy also claimed they were wrongly served by Gonzalez twice — when he disallowed a perfectly good goal in the first half and then allowed Ferguson's strike stand even though television showed him to be offside. The Scots countered that with their fury over the winner and claimed that Gonzalez missed a handball from Gianluca Zambrotta.

McLeish added: "We showed our character and fought back after losing such an early goal. For the final 10 or 15 minutes we were on top and I thought Faddy's (James McFadden) chance had won it for us. When the ball went to him my life flashed before me. For a moment I thought we were on the way to Switzerland."