Vanquished Croatia head for home today with the recriminations on a World Cup turned sour just beginning to raise their head.

After arriving in Germany with such high hopes, the Croats have tumbled out at the group stage, just as they did in the Far East four years ago and at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

Doubts are bound to be raised over the future of coach Zltako Kranjcar, particularly as his own players have already started to question the tactics of a team which failed to record a win in what appeared to be a relatively easy group.

"We played too defensively," grumbled Darijo Srna, whose third minute free-kick gave the Croatians a perfect start in their must-win encounter with Australia last night.

"I am totally down and find it difficult to describe my emotions.

"You could say we didn't have any luck but the truth is, when it mattered, we could not score."

Kranjcar argued the seeds of his side's untimely exit were sown by their failure to beat Japan, which forced them into a position of no return against the Socceroos.

On the night though, his team paid the price for twice failing to capitalise on winning positions and then losing their heads in a reckless 11 minutes following Harry Kewell's equaliser which saw skipper Niko Kovac sent off along with Josip Simunic, who was bizarrely shown three yellow cards by Premiership referee Graham Poll.

While united in total dejection, there was a difference of opinion within the Croatian camp over whether the side had done enough over three games to warrant a place in the last 16.

Kovac said yes but midfield partner Marko Babic disagreed.

"We have fallen a long way short of our expectations," he said.

"We were in the lead twice but we could not protect it, which is terrible really."