Australia is out of the FIFA World Cup after a dispiriting 2-0 loss to already-eliminated Peru to finish bottom of Group C.
France and Denmark drew 0-0 to make Australia's loss ultimately inconsequential as Les Bleus topped the group with seven points, ahead of Denmark (five), Peru (three) and the bottom-placed Socceroos on a solitary point.
Peru opened the scoring through Andre Carrillo, who lashed home a superb left-footed volley from the edge of the area across the diving Mat Ryan, who had no chance.
Needing to come flying out the traps in the second half, Australia instead conceded just five minutes into the second stanza as Peru simply walked through the Socceroos' midfield for Paolo Gurrero to slot home.
The Socceroos threw on Tim Cahill and Daniel Arzani from the bench, but could only create one meaningful shot as Cahill volleyed straight into the midriff of his marker.
Peru nearly had a third as Christian Cueva thumped a shot against Mat Ryan's upright, with Australia's exit looking a foregone conclusion.
"Disappointing is the word. Empty is another word. Yeah. There is not a lot to say," Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak said.
"It wasn't from the lack of effort. We created a lot. It felt like we did.
"It seemed to elude us, that goal, I think had we got one, we might have got a few more. But it wasn't meant to be."
Australia coach Bert van Marwijk, whose Socceroos tenure now comes to an end, believed his side was the better of the two teams in Sochi.
"We played much better than our opponent. They shot two times, the first goal was offside," he said.
"We had so many chances, but we have a problem at this level to score a goal.
"They did everything I asked, we played football really well."
It meant Peru ended its campaign on a high note — already eliminated after two losses, it recorded its first win at the World Cup since a 4-1 win over Iran in 1978.
