Pre-match, Arnold was conscious of a nation watching over his shoulder. “I said to the boys, let’s put a smile on the nation’s face,” he said. “There’s two teams that bring the nation together, and that’s the Socceroos and the Matildas. When the Socceroos play at World Cups, AFL fans, rugby league fans, cricket fans, they all become football fans.“

When Australia scored, Arnold again played on-the-spot psyche with a pitch side pep talk. In the perverse way of these things, arguably the goal had come too soon. It had against France.

“The next five minutes after a goal is scored is so important, mentally,” he said. “You’ve got to continue playing. It’s about being switched on and there’s no celebration at all. You’re after the second goal straight away.”

There was no second, but nor was there even one for Tunisia.

The defence was heroic. Goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan was commanding. Harry Souttar made metres even he might have thought he did not have in him to lay a tackle that might have saved a goal. When Aaron Mooy snuffed out another Tunisian attack with a deathlessly timed tackle, the normally silent midfielder roared maniacally.

Arnold cherished it all, but at the final whistle, and after allowing the Socceroos a statutory basking period, he snapped the briefcase shut.

“I just said to them that no doubt the nation is extremely proud, but we’ve done nothing,” he said. “You’ve achieved something you can talk about after the tournament, but we’re here to go as far as we can go. I don’t want any celebrations. Enjoy this couple of minutes with the fans, get yourself in the dressing room, ice baths, recover, and get ready for the next one.“

Who’d be a coach. Graham Arnold would.