Scotland midfielder John McGinn watched through his fingers as Luka Jovic's late header bounced up into the top corner.
Sitting in the stands of the Rajko Mitic Stadium after being brought off for Kenny McLean, the Aston Villa man thought his on-pitch team-mates were done for despite dominating Serbia as the home side made it 1-1 in the final minute of regular time.
But he was proved wrong as Steve Clarke's weary troops held on in extra time before keeping up a 100 per cent record in penalty shootouts to allow keeper David Marshall a shot at glory, which he duly took by denying Aleksandar Mitrovic.
And speaking to Sky Sports, McGinn praised the Derby County keeper - but admitted he feared the unthinkable when the match rolled on after 90 minutes.
He said: "We've been battered from pillar to post, sometimes deservedly so. But last night there was just a feeling, the first half, even though we were underdogs we played Serbia off the park.
"Maybe just towards the end we tired a little bit, when the goal went in I was sat on the side, up in the stand thinking, 'typical Scotland '.
"I just thought that was us done.
"But the lads on the pitch, the lads that came on showed unbelievable character.
"Davie Marshall came up the save, and we're going to the Euros."
McGinn insists all those years in the international wilderness - with Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales and England all jetting off to the previous edition of the Euros - makes the victory even more special.
"I don't know how, but it means so much more," he said.
"You need to wait four years and you need to watch England enjoy it, you need to watch Wales enjoy it.
"This is our time, and we deserve it."
