When Wales fell to defeat against the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff last month, it felt like the end of an era. The optimism had been palpable; a first World Cup finals in nearly 60 years was within touching distance.
Then it was snatched away, cruelly and anti-climactically. All that was left was disappointment, solemnness, a sense of self-pity. The success of recent years, so unusual for Welsh supporters, had only heightened enthusiasm and expectation and only made the failure to qualify for next summer’s tournament in Russia more disheartening.
But the success shouldn’t be forgotten. It was no fluke that Wales reached the semi-finals of last year’s European Championship, and they were perhaps unfortunate in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Too many draws proved costly, as did Gareth Bale’s unavailability as the group reached its decisive conclusion.
Elimination has been followed by inevitable reflection. What of the future of Chris Coleman, the coach who has led Wales to undoubtedly their most fruitful spell in decades? Was the brilliant Euro 2016 campaign a one-off? Is it time for a significant change of personnel?
The answers are not yet entirely clear. It is evident, however, that Wales are in a period of transition, that the coming months could be the difference between continued progression, or eventual stagnation.
They were defeated 2-0 against a talented, confident French side on Friday, in a somewhat tentative, unsure display. "There is still a bit of a hangover there and I think that will be there for a while,” said Coleman of the loss.
The performance almost encapsulated the current feeling around Wales; a side waiting for the next step, uncertain what lies ahead in the near future.
Firstly, the managerial situation will need to be resolved. For all of his hugely impressive work while in charge of Wales, there have been calls from some for Coleman to bring his tenure to an end.
"I'm genuinely not thinking about it," he said after the Ireland defeat, but he will have been. And he will be even more so after Friday evening. There is a suggestion that things have got stale, that a fresh approach is what’s needed.
Wales, though, will have to be careful in who they choose to succeed Coleman should he opt to leave. The 47-year-old may be jaded, may crave a new challenge, but it was his tactical revolution, his team selections and man-management that brought together a team that had previously lacked belief. It was he that led Wales to the most impressive tournament finish in their history.
Chris Gunter called him the "greatest Welsh manager of all time" and he was probably right. Without him there might be an increased sense of uncertainty. The calls from a number of Wales players that he stay on are understandable.
And the alternatives do not exactly invoke excitement. Ryan Giggs, inexperienced and unproven, has been made the favourite to replace Coleman. Then there's Tony Pulis, who has grown increasingly unpopular at West Brom and plays a brand of football that may deter supporters. Away from those two, the names look increasingly speculative; even Dean Saunders has been mentioned.
Talks are ongoing over a new contract for Coleman – his current deal expires at the end of the month – but doubt remains the most prevalent sentiment. After the Ireland game, he admitted that he was left utterly deflated. “For 10 days I didn’t really leave my house or stray far," he said.
Coleman’s body language has not been overly encouraging, but there still are plenty of reasons for positivity from those of a Welsh persuasion. The three players introduced in the second-half against France were a pick of some of the talented, highly-rated youngsters emerging, and increasingly impressing at youth level.
Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu and Sheffield United striker David Brooks both made their debuts, while Liverpool forward Ben Woodburn also came on from the bench. "This is the transition I've been talking about,” Coleman said. "We've got a few more on the bench that we need to blood.”
Those youngsters will join a side dented and perturbed by their experience of World Cup qualifying, but one more than capable of a revitalisation in the coming months. Wales are certainly capable of achieving qualification for the next European Championship, but how they adjust to the challenges of such a significant setback will be vital.
The fitness of Bale, of course, will be integral too. He has suffered injuries with concerning frequency at Real Madrid, and there is no question that Wales have missed him. It could be that they must learn to accept his intermittent absence, to find a way of winning without his individual brilliance.
There are numerous questions for Wales to answer, numerous issues to be solved. How they are approached could be the difference between continued improvement in the future and an unwelcome return to the underwhelming obscurity so ingrained in the minds of Welsh fans.
As Coleman so aptly put it, "when the dust settles we'll see where we go."
