Seamus Coleman said retirement was not something in his thoughts in the wake of Ireland's gut-wrenching penalty shootout loss to Czechia.
The 37-year old defender again played the full 90 minutes and even played a portion of extra-time as Ireland's World Cup play-off semi-final went the distance in Prague.
After reflecting on a tumultuous evening, Coleman told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue that he never thinks of himself and his own situation so soon after an agonising loss.
"No, I would never think of myself that quickly after the nation got so disappointed," the former Republic of Ireland captain insisted.
"That's something that will come later down the line, but I'm just disappointed for the lads. Disappointing for all the fans. That's [retirement] not something in my thoughts at this moment in time.
"It would have been great to get to America. We're all going to be disappointed in there. I've enjoyed getting back into the fold and being part of it again and wearing that green jersey. Just disappointed I couldn't help a little bit more to get the lads over the line."
'You'd be disappointed to let them back into the game, for sure'
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Seamus Coleman speaks to @corktod about what Ireland got right and wrong tonight
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Heimir Hallgrimsson's side led 2-0 in the first half, after Troy Parrott's penalty and a chaotic own goal from the hosts. However, a needlessly conceded penalty allowed the flailing Czechs a lifeline, Patrik Schick tucking it away to bring it back to 2-1.
Even so, Ireland were six minutes away from victory in normal time until Alan Browne was harshly penalised for a phantom foul in the corner, and Ladislav Krejci headed home the resultant free-kick at the near post.
"Ideal start away from home, two goals up. You'd be disappointed to let them back into the game for sure," Coleman said.
"It's obviously disappointing to give away a penalty. I didn't see it back. When you go 2-0 up, for them to come back into the game, we're very disappointed.
"It was a physical game. They played a lot of long balls. So did we. I think at times maybe we could have put our foot on it a little bit, but we didn't.
"You've always got to earn the right to win a game of football. When we were 2-0 up, we were doing well and after that, as I said, let them back into it.
"A few sloppy decisions at times to give the crowd a bit of momentum. At times, we looked like we were hanging on and then we had a good spell, maybe in the second half of extra-time."
Despite gaining an advantage in the shootout, with Caoimhín Kelleher saving the first penalty, Ireland handed back the lead with Finn Azaz missing a chance to put Ireland 4-2 ahead before Browne had his effort saved.
"They stepped up, they took a penalty for their country in a high-pressure moment," said Coleman.
"They missed, it happens. They're brave enough to take it. We've got to look after them now and dust ourselves down, but it's going to take a little while.
"I think we're all in it together. We all had a special November time together. There was a lot of hope.
"That's why we're disappointed. We felt the love and support since we came back into camp this week. We wanted to give a little bit more back and it wasn't to be.
"We've got to swallow that now and good luck to the Czechs in the next game."
