Australia v Peru - Australia out of World Cup after loss to Peru - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Match 38

Australian sport has not had too many weeks as bad as this one. Beaten in the rugby by Six Nations champions Ireland, who claimed their first series victory down under for 39 years with a 2-1 win, Australia’s cricketers were then subjected to a first ever 5-0 series whitewash by England in the one day internationals.

Now the country’s football team have completed an unwanted hat-trick for a proud sporting nation. With Denmark  claiming a point against France, victory over Peru would still not have been enough to secure Australia a place in the last 16 of the World Cup but, on a muggy afternoon in Sochi, they exited the tournament with something of a whimper.

Bert van Marwijk, who now steps down as Australia’s coach, could point to a flurry of missed chances in both halves, a  profligacy that felt all the starker when framed against Peru’s ruthlessness for whom Watford’s Andre Carillo scored a stunning volley and Paolo Guerrero what could yet prove his last goal for his country.

But, as Van Marwijk acknowledged afterwards, goals always threatened to be hard to come by for his side. Their two against France and Denmark both came from Mile Jedanik penalties and, just when Van Marwijk needed his attack to  ignite, instead it was found sorely wanting.

“Against France, we were at  least equal, and against Denmark even better and this was the same but we couldn’t score and that’s something this squad are lacking at this level. 

If you create chances, you have to score,” the Dutchman said. “I saw France and Denmark against Peru and in both games they had chances to win both those games like we did so you can come to the conclusion that France and Denmark had more luck than either of us.”

Peru’s journey also ended here but their first World Cup for 36 years has been a celebration from start to finish. This was a perfect send-off for their wonderful supporters, who have enriched this tournament with their passion and joy  and who filled four-fifths of the Fisht Stadium.

SOURCE:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/06/26/australia-vs-peru-world-cup-2018-live-score-latest-updates/