World Cup 2018: Mile Jedinak flat-lines audition to seal move away from Aston Villa as Australia crash out - scouting report

The Socceroos captain saw the must-win Group C encounter with Peru pass him by as his side failed to challenge Denmark for a place in the last-16

If Australia were to have any chance of getting through to the last 16 it would be thanks in no small part to Mile Jedinak. The Australian captain has scored the Socceroos’ last five competitive goals and they have all been from set pieces. His penalty against Denmark Football clawed the game back for the Australian national side and kept them in the running for the knockout stage of the 2018 World Cup.

Australia knew that victory over Peru could have given them a chance to take second place in Group C, should Denmark’s result against France go against them.

However, Jedinak’s World Cup campaign was almost cut short just ten minutes into the game after a shocking high boot that nearly caught Christian Cueva in the face, but instead hit his shoulder. Luckily, Jedinak only received a yellow card. Had he connected with Cueva’s face, he would most likely have seen red.

Jedinak’s albatross contract could have Aston Villa bosses thinking about shifting the player on. He’s got a year left with the club at £50,000-a-week, and due to recent financial troubles the club is looking to recoup costs wherever it can, with the 33-year-old defensive midfielder potentially freeing up some much-needed cash for the struggling club.

Villa’s recent failed campaign for a place in the Premier League could also leave Jedinak wanting more. Before moving to the club in 2016 he played for five years in the top flight where he fulfilled an integral role at Crystal Palace.

Jedinak’s recent performance in the Championship play-offs was one of the deciding factors that helped get Aston Villa into the final. He made impactful tackles and protected the backline well. Unfortunately, his standout performance was overshadowed by the team’s shortcomings in the final.

However, if the game against Peru was his audition then he flat lined. The entire Australian side struggled to combat Peru’s attacks and Jedinak flew uncharacteristically under the radar this game. He had very few chances to demonstrate his set-piece potency. Australia were expected to go into this game and challenge for the second spot in the group, instead they rolled over to a team that was yet to score a goal in the competition before kick-off.

Australia had a couple of free kick chances in range of the Peruvian goal but Aaron Mooy got the first chance instead of the skipper. In lieu of Jedinak’s attempts on goal Mooy crossed the ball into the box to no avail. The one free-kick chance that Jedinak got sailed over the bar.

Jedinak saw his two chances to make an impact on the game go begging (Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Jedinak had a chance in the 52nd when he headered the ball towards goal but the attempt was easily stopped by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

The Australian defence seemed to vanish even further in the second half, and while Jedinak had a few touches here and there, he ultimately had little impact on the game – much like Australia’s impact on the tournament.