The QPR man didn't see a minute of action in Russia, with Socceroos coach Bert van Marwjik preferring other midfield options.

Luongo had been a key figure in Australia's World Cup qualification campaign and shone in the Socceroos' 0-0 friendly draw against Colombia in March under the Dutchman too.

However, like in 2014 when he was a shock World Cup inclusion, Luongo wasn't used on the big stage.

“To be honest it was a really disappointing experience for me," Luongo told Football.London.

“It was the whole thing; I was expecting to play and to make an impact and through no fault of my own it didn’t happen.

"I did what I could to help out the team but I wanted to play and it didn’t happen and I was really disappointed.

“When the team is winning and you’re not playing it’s all good because there’s nothing more you can do but when the team’s not playing well and you’re sitting on the bench and emotions get involved and I feel I can possibly add something different, it’s quite frustrating.

“The good thing Is that I did everything I can to make myself fit for games and offer myself to start and it didn’t happen.

"I’m not blaming myself for it – I put myself in a good position and next time, with a bit of luck, I’ll be picked to play.”

Luongo in training in Kazan, Russia, during the 2018 World Cup

Luongo had no gripes with his treatment by van Marwijk and was already looking towards the 2022 World Cup under new boss Graham Arnold.

“In four years a lot of the older players won’t be involved so at the moment I’m hopefully in the best position to play if we qualify," the 25-year-old said.

"For this one, I think it’s just a case of balancing it with the boys – how well they were playing and what was needed for the game.

“Probably not knowing about his players as much as our previous manager did won’t have helped, but for the next one we’ve already announced our new manager so he’ll have four years to look at me and see how it goes and hopefully then I’ll have some idea as to whether I’ll be playing or not.

“But I’ve come back and the manager here (at QPR) gave me a couple of weeks off and now it’s back to it. I kind of just want to put it away and use it as motivation for the season.”