The farcical non-selection of Australia’s brightest young prospect - and belated attempted about-face by Vidmar before a ball had been kicked in Qatar - was emblematic of the 270 minutes of barren football that followed.

No goals in three games against the likes of Jordan, Indonesia and an under-strength Qatar. No qualification for the Paris Games and seemingly no clue from Vidmar and a Football Australia football department, headed up by chief football officer Ernie Merrick, the 71-year-old Scotsman who is more a throwback to a bygone era than a young progressive presence at the apex of the organisation.

There’ll be an FA review as to exactly what went wrong in Doha - a city of broken dreams for the Socceroos at the Asian Cup three months earlier - and Vidmar, appointed two years ago, will find himself under intense scrutiny.

Word from inside the camp speaks of a coach unable to bring the best out in his players, putting levity before intense preparation ahead their final crucial match against the hosts, which - to nobody’s great surprise - finished goalless.

In fairness to Vidmar, several injuries and European clubs refusing to release a number of key players at the eleventh hour, did him few favours.

It begs the question: how would Australia’s fortunes have fared had the irrepressible and explosive Bayern-bound Irankunda been in the house? It’s fair to surmise, in all likelihood, a whole lot better than they ultimately did.

All of which casts Vidmar’s post-exit comments in the bizarre basket.

The former Socceroos defender painted a sepia-tinted hue on his charge's performances, insisting their failure to progress would have no broader repercussions on the development of players with aspirations to become next gen Socceroos.

Never mind the fact that post-Tokyo 2021 the likes of Riley McGree, Tom Glover, Kye Rowles, Connor Metcalfe and Keanu Baccus won career upgrades off the back of impressing scouts during a campaign which kicked off with a 2-0 win over Argentina.

This current crop won’t now have that opportunity.

“I’m very proud of the team, of how they played and how they performed,” said Vidmar. “They played some unbelievable, fantastic football.

"There was just a little bit of luck not coming on our side for the ball to go in the goal. “We created many chances, but that’s been our story.

“I don’t think there will be an impact, the previous times when we haven’t qualified (for the Olympics) players have still come through.

“A lot of these players will continue on for the next two years for the next AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia and they will have gained valuable experience moving forward.

“That’s the benefit, that’s why as a country we’re playing in Asia because this type of football is new for a lot of the players. Our benefit long term is for national team players and this exposure for them is going to be beneficial.”

Whether FA CEO James Johnson and the board, headed up by chairman Anter Isaac, will share Vidmar’s rosy summation of events appears at best questionable.

FTBL sought comment from Isaac but he declined to respond.

As for Irankunda, perhaps he's been left scratching his head. Just like the rest of us.