SOCHI – Australia bowed out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Peru full of the missed chances that haunted its campaign.

The Socceroos controlled proceedings on Wednesday morning (AEST) but were again wasteful in front of goal as Andre Carrillo’s brilliant volley and Paolo Guerrero’s deflected strike helped Peru to its first World Cup win in 40 years.

Australia needed a win, and France to beat Denmark, to have a chance of advancing to the next round.

After the French and Danish sides played out a goalless draw, the Socceroos’ result was eventually meaningless, but was still a disappointing end to Bert van Marwijk’s brief tenure as coach.

An impressive Tom Rogic came closest to scoring for Australia at Fisht Stadium, shooting straight at Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, while Mathew Leckie was only denied an equaliser by some outstanding last-ditch defending from Anderson Santamaria in a promising first half.

But a lack of a cutting edge was all too evident as Australia – without a World Cup victory since 2010 – leaves Russia with just one point and a bottom-placed Group C finish for its troubles.

And while that is harsh on a Socceroos side that should have beaten Denmark and was perhaps unlucky not to draw against France, these are the harsh realities that are delivered at the highest level.

“It’s so frustrating,” teenage sensation Daniel Arzani told The New Daily after the defeat.

“All three games … we played really well, we dominated teams but we didn’t get the win in the end.

“That’s just something that we need to take away from this and work on … it’s a disappointing way to end the tournament.”

Left-back Aziz Behich also bemoaned his side’s profligacy in attack, telling The New Daily that “we took it to all three teams”.

“We deserved more … it was just a pity the way it all panned out for us … we just couldn’t hit the back of the net,” he said.

Speaking in his last commitment as Socceroos coach, van Marwijk said his time in charge was “not a success, but also not a failure”.

“We were at least equal with France, against Denmark I think in football we were even better, and today I have the same feeling,” he said.

Van Marwijk cut a frustrated figure. Photo: Getty

Van Marwijk also raised doubts about the validity of Carrillo’s 18th-minute opener due to an alleged offside in the build-up, something captain Mile Jedinak also mentioned to reporters.

It ultimately mattered little, though, as one gets the feeling the Socceroos would not have scored if the match was still in progress tomorrow.

It was just one of those days.

A fast start

Van Marwijk declined to use veteran striker Tim Cahill from the start, making just one change from the team that drew 1-1 with Denmark as striker Tomi Juric replaced the injured Andrew Nabbout.

The match may as well have been played in Lima, such was the noise generated by the Peru fans, and they were deliriously celebrating when Carrillo scored in style.

The goal was against the run of play and incredibly simple, with captain Guerrero – who was perhaps marginally offside – controlling a long ball before crossing for the unguarded Carrillo to thrash home on the volley.

Australia had some great chances to respond, the best of which came from Rogic – but he could not beat Gallese after a sensational mazy run through the Peru defence – before Santamaria’s intervention denied Leckie a tap-in from a smart Robbie Kruse cut-back.

But if Australia’s finish to the first half gave fans confidence, an almighty sucker-punch was just around the corner.

And it was delivered by Guerrero, who had a drug suspension prohibiting him from playing in the World Cup overturned at the 11th hour.

Guerrero celebrates his goal. Photo: Getty

Guerrero tested positive for cocaine contained in tea he drank and needed a Swiss court – and the help of Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak, among others – to help in his ultimately successful bid to have his ban ‘frozen’ for the tournament.

So it was a cruel twist of fate that his goal would be the one that effectively ended Australia’s chances of progressing to the last 16.

Peru’s all-time leading goalscorer reacted quickest to a deflected pass before – via another deflection – shooting past Socceroos goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

On came Cahill and Arzani, but despite throwing bodies forward and controlling play, the under-pressure Socceroos had to settle for a series of half-chances.

And yet again, they were opportunities they could not convert.

For Australia, it was the story of the World Cup. Sochi was just the final chapter.