An emotional Graham Arnold has been left speechless - literally - after the win-that-got-away from his Socceroos at a deafening Wembley Stadium.
The Australia coach tried to take on 80,000 fans in a shouting contest as he attempted to make his instructions heard from his technical area at England's national arena.
By the end of the 1-0 defeat to England - a result which could well have gone the other way if the Socceroos had taken their chances - he had lost his voice completely and had to leave the post-match media duties to his assistant Rene Meulensteen.
"I did try to warn him," said a smiling Meulensteen.
"I said, 'You are in a stadium that holds more than 80,000 people - nobody will hear you'.
"But that's his passion. Arnie's so passionate about Australian football, about the young players and about the national team - he just can't help himself.
"But he paid the price tonight."
While admitting his boss had been left "devastated" by the defeat, which came courtesy of Ollie Watkins' second-half winner, Meulensteen was quick to outline the things he knew Arnold wanted to get across.
"We have to be very, very proud of this performance," the Dutchman said, rating Australia's display as superior to anything the team delivered even during their memorable World Cup run in Qatar last year.
"We played against a very strong nation who can field two world-class teams without a shadow of a doubt.
"If you look at where we've come from over the last 12 months, this was by far the best performance.
"We were very well organised, very well structured. The players played with courage and bravery when they could and, with a bit more luck, we could have scored at least two goals.
"We keep trying to find new young players to bring in, to make sure that we keep developing, we keep growing as a team.
"We've grown a lot again today for sure."
The versatile Kye Rowles slotted in seamlessly at left back, Ryan Strain was immaculate on his first full start and Saudi-based Craig Goodwin would have been a worthy man of the match.
But Meulensteen didn't want to single anyone out.
"Every single one of them was outstanding," he said, particularly pleased with the way the Socceroos had taken the fight to England at a stadium in which so many sides show no great attacking ambition.
"There's not many national teams that have the courage to press against big teams. It's admirable from us," Meulensteen said.
While saying the performance will only have enhanced Australia's standing in the international game, Meulensteen added the side can't afford to squander their chances again when they meet New Zealand for soccer's Ashes at Brentford on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).
