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Garang Kuol is denied by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the World Cup in 2022.Credit:Getty

Graham Arnold knows this feeling well. Thrice now his national team has been knocked out of the Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage,and each time there was a sense something more could have been done.

This time,Mr Tumnus is confused to see Arnold and asking questions about his game management. The coach has already said he brought off Goodwin and Nathaniel Atkinson because “they were cooked”. He has said emotions were still too raw to publicly process the match,including his substitutions. He did say he has “learnt a lot from this Asian Cup”.

This inquest will likely focus on selections and tactics. On Arnieball and probably Angeball (also in Narnia) and the pros and cons of siege mentalities. Whatever it throws up,the national team’s journey will continue. World Cup qualifying resumes in March against Lebanon,and it is not yet clear how the post-tournament FIFA rankings will affect Australia’s seeding in the expanded third round of qualifying.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson has made clear the federation will back Arnold for the duration of his extended contract which covers this cycle,issuing a statement soon after full-time stating he was “filled with an immense sense of pride for what Arnie and our team has accomplished”.

Lucas Neill concedes a late penalty for a tackle on Fabio Grosso at the 2006 World Cup.Credit:AP

Arnold is seeking more accomplishments,emphasising once more the team’s youth and capacity to grow.

“In terms of caps and appearances we’ve got 12 players here that were at the World Cup,so we’re regenerating the squad as we go,” Arnold said.

“[At this tournament],you saw quite a number of new players on the pitch. After this Asian Cup,I go home and no doubt there’s some older players that may retire and move on,and obviously I’ve learnt a lot from the other new players that I brought in.

“I’ve had retirements – some players in Aaron Mooy and Mass Luongo and Tommy Rogic,that were good quality players for Australia and[who] we’re looking to replace.

“That’s the big thing at this moment:what’s next? Who’s next? That’s what I’m trying to do,to find,as well as trying to win games. That’s the hardest thing.”

Kuol was not in this squad. Nor was Nestory Irankunda,another hope for the future. Both omissions were likely strategic to increase the chance their clubs will release them for the Olyroos’ Olympic qualifiers in April.

Right now,though,the Socceroos will hop on various planes back to their respective clubs,knowing they were three minutes away from an Asian Cup semi-final that has defied quantum physics and travelled to a different land entirely.

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