The Socceroos finished their World Cup campaign in Russia with a 2-0 defeat to Peru and it didn't take long for the critics to take aim.
SBS host Craig Foster led the charge, saying he couldn't accept what Australia achieved in Russia but former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic believes the green and gold can be proud.
Milicevic adamant the Socceroos gave it their all and people shouldn't expect the team to punch so far above their weight.
"I think some of the criticism I've seen since our last game against Peru from all the various pundits out there... I kind of find it a little bit bizarre or unrealistic even," Milicevic told Goal.
"I think Bert van Marwijk did a great job, I think the boys followed his instructions really well and they played a great tournament.
"It was a gallant effort, someone else said it wasn't, and I think it was.
"I'm sorry but if you play open football against France or you open yourself up against Denmark...you are going to cop three or four.
"Let's not be unrealistic and critique to an extent that we are a nation that is a traditional footballing powerhouse. Because we're not!"
A big issue facing the Socceroos right now is goals with the side unable to score from open play in Russia.
It's a weakness Milicevic believes is a particularly costly one.
"They found it hard to score but that's not an easy thing to do and that is why strikers are the highest paid in the world," he said.
"Unfortunately at the moment we don't have a world-class striker like Peru do for example.
"When we did score goals at a World Cup... you had Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka up front."
Check out all of those Ljubo's thoughts on the Socceroos final game against Peru below.
