Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson could only say he was "delighted" this most trying of international windows is over and hopes "no national team to go through what we have gone through over the last two weeks".
With four games played - just one on Irish soil - and about 5,000 miles travelled, Sunday's behind-closed-doors 1-1 draw against Israel in the Serbian town of Backa Topola brought the curtain down on two weeks that have taken their toll.
That his side took the field against Israel this week, and in last week's 3-0 victory in Debrecen, came under scrutiny and fire with the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine's 'Stop The Game' campaign for a boycott because of the Israel-Gaza war.
That pressure ramped up before last Sunday's victory in Hungary with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu making himself unavailable for those fixtures because he felt "it would be wrong to participate". A vote held between the remaining players on whether to procced with the Israel games featured on a chaotic day.
On the eve of Sunday's match, Hallgrimsson's news conference was cut short when an Israeli reporter made accusations that some Irish players made racist comments in their victory last week.
Those claims have been strenuously denied by the Football Association of Ireland, which had launched its own investigation into racist abuse directed towards their own players by some Israel fans in Debrecen.
Hallgrimsson wore a tired expression as he faced the media one more time, agreeing he has "been fresher" but has "learnt a lot in these two weeks".
"I'm absolutely delighted this is finished," he said following Sunday's draw which left his side with five points out of a possible 12.
"It has taken a toll on us all. The players have been absolutely amazing in tough times."
While Bazunu withdrew from the Israel games, midfielder Finn Azaz did not play in either game, but for different reasons.
The 26-year-old has family links to Israel on his mother's side, which the Irish manager felt put him in a tough spot because of the squad's decision to wear black armbands and bow their heads during the Israel anthem in both games.
Azaz produced a fine display in Thursday's 2-2 draw at home to Austria, but when weighing it all up, Hallgrimsson concluded: "I didn't feel he was ready for the [Israel] game.
"Finn played 90 minutes against Austria and got a little knock, but also, this has been tough on him mentally and I just didn't feel he was ready for playing.
"It is probably the most difficult situation for him of all of us. He deserves a lot of credit for being in the squad and showed desire to be a part of this team.
"It was tough for him that we were wearing black armbands and tough for him that we looked down when the [Israeli] national anthem was sung.
"It tested him more than all of us, so I felt it was better to leave him out than play him."
Despite those difficulties for Azaz, when the subject of Southampton midfielder continuing his international career was raised, the Irish boss could only "hope so".
"Nothing points to him quitting and just being here proves it to me that he wants to be with us and wants to be with us in the Euro finals in 2028.
"He's shown his quality and worth on the pitch to us."
Uefa rejected request to keep Republic of Ireland and Israel separate - FAI
