Scotland have had their fair share of tournament hard luck stories over the years but this must go straight in at number one.

They were 3-0 up and cruising into the last 16, only to chuck all that good work out the window. A truly spectacular collapse.

From euphoria to despair in the space of 15 minutes, with late, late VAR drama thrown into the mix.

At least they got there, that's something to be proud of, but to blow such a wonderful chance of progressing is going to hurt for a long, long time.

The World Cup goes on but Scotland go home.

Good night...

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

During that gut-wrenching post-match interview, Scotland captain Rachel Corsie took a moment to appreciate the silver lining to the dark cloud currently looming over the Parc de Prince: "I'm proud of everybody. We absolutely gave everything. I never questioned that.

"I thought tonight we were outstanding and deserved to be three goals ahead. And we'll be back. The girls are upset but we'll bounce back. We always do."

Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr adds: “People will argue you can’t concede three goals but it does put you under pressure when you concede one. We didn’t deal with the ball around the edge of the box with the second one and obviously the third is a penalty.

“I’m gutted for the players, gutted for the support but I have to say the officiating was really, really poor.

“I can’t really say any more about the decisions. We have been a victim of them in every game. We still have to do better and see the game out but right now it’s a bit raw.”

Image source, Getty Images

Erin Cuthbert, who scored the third and set up the first of Scotland's goals, topped the voting.

Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr is asked to sum up her feelings and says: “I haven’t got a clue.

“We were comfortable in the game. For 70 minutes we played well. The bottom line is we have conceded three goals but the first goal is a free-kick and that changes the whole complexion of the game.

"I’ve watched the penalty again and I’m not even sure after watching it numerous times. Some of the decisions were appalling to say the least. There is a ball on the pitch and they play on, we try and make a substitution and we can't, it’s just an absolute farce but it doesn’t take away the fact we were comfortable in the game and conceded three goals.

"We will look back. We are all gutted just now."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

Scotland goalscorer Jen Beattie tells BBC Scotland: "It's tough. To give away a three-goal lead is devastating. Some of the decisions we feel hard done by but we can’t give away three goals and win. We're absolutely gutted with the way things have gone.

"I'm proud of the players and the journey and hopefully we’ll be back in four years."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Emma Black
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound

Scotland goalkeeper Lee Alexander says she is "devasted" after such a terrible, late collapse.

"We deserved to win the game," she tells BBC Scotland.

"Countless decisions went against us in the tournament. It's hard to put into words but we know we belong on this stage.

"It should have been three points. We're absolutely gutted. We feel very hard done by over the three games. I don't know how Argentina kept 11 players on the park."

Scotland captain Rachel Corsie is beside herself with disbelief at full time. Speaking to the BBC, she says: "I thought we were outstanding. We just weren't going to get the decisions and that was the bottom line. The third goal is ridiculous. It was clear for everyone to see that we were still making a substitution. I don't understand how that can be allowed at this level.

"They're making the rules really, really strict and we were making a substitution while we were defending a free-kick and for some reason the referee has allowed the play to continue. It's just really, really sore that that is what has ultimately cost us the tournament."

Where do we start the inquest? We could be here all night.

Scotland have conceded a penalty in every match. The ones against England and Japan were soft but there was no doubt about this one.

We can't grumble too much about the retake since Lee Alexander did have both feet off her line.

However, there is cause to feel hard done by as the fourth official had just finished fussing over Fiona Brown's introduction when Argentina took the free kick which led to fellow sub Sophie Howard giving away the spot-kick away.

There should also have been considerably more time added on after all the VAR delays but that's entering straw-clutching territory.

It all boils down to a catastrophic lack of focus after going 3-0 up...

The Scotland players are in a huddle, with captain Rachel Corsie delivering an impassioned message.

A result like this is going to take a long time to recover from.