AN end of an era.

When the final whistle blew in Sochi, and as sadness and frustration came to the fore, that was the stark reality hanging in the air.

The Socceroos’ 2-0 loss to Peru looks set to bring an end to international football for a number of players — with Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak among those potentially moving on. Certainly, it was their last World Cups.

But only one player has consistently defined Australia through its modern World Cup era.

When Tim Cahill stripped off his substitute’s vest in the 53rd minute of the Socceroos’ clash with Peru, he officially took to the field in his fourth World Cup for his country.

Such an achievement cannot be downplayed.

Australia has qualified for every World Cup since and including 2006.

Australia's Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) Source: AAP

Those 12 years have seen the Socceroos take a revitalised standing in the hearts and minds of the Australian people.

And Cahill has been a part of that journey the entire time.

To the wider Australian public, many of whom have an inconsistent relationship with the world game, Cahill has been the key figure connecting them to Australia’s national football team.

A hero against Japan in 2006 with a gamewinning brace, a less-famous goal in the less-heralded win over Serbia in 2010 — Australia’s last victory on the world stage — in his first two World Cups.

Australian midfielder Tim Cahill. AFP PHOTO / TORSTEN BLACKWOOD Source: News Corp Australia

Then came a header against Chile, and that volley against the Netherlands in 2014.

Indeed, so many of Cahill’s big moments in World Cups have been Australia’s moments at World Cups.

So often, the headlines Australians have connected with are those that feature ‘Timmy’ or ‘Cahill’ — and visuals of the talismanic playmaker-turned striker rising high to head home at key moments, punching corner flags and relishing in the pride of playing for his country.

You can add three goals in a successful Asian Cup campaign in 2015 into the mix too — a milestone after which few would have begrudged Cahill for calling time on an already illustrious career.

Tim Cahill of Australia celebrates. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Yet he kept playing, and for the most part, scoring.

Then as the Socceroos floundered their way through the latter stages of qualifying, Cahill went for more than a year, and 10 caps, without finding the back of the net at international level.

But when push came to shove, he found a way to deliver, with his matchwinning brace against Syria key to the Socceroos’ qualification.

Tim Cahill of Australia celebrates. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

At 37 years of age, Cahill had no right to score. But try telling a midfielder-turned-undersized-striker … turned Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer that the stage wasn’t his to own.

Once again, ‘Timmy’ delivered on a big stage. Once again, the Australian public surged with pride.

But all good things must come to an end.

After a tumultuous season at club level, in which Cahill departed Melbourne City, joined Millwall and struggled for game time — with just 63 minutes to his name in the Championship — the 38-year-old headed to his fourth World Cup with an impending sense he would be a break-glass option, rather than the main man.

23/06/2010 WIRE: Australia's striker Tim Cahill (R) celebrates with Australia's defender David Carney (C) and Australia's striker Brett Holman after scoring. AFP PHOTO / STAN HONDA Source: News Limited

Cahill spent much of the tournament cooling his heels on the bench — as did Jamie Maclaren, the 24-year-old goal poacher who failed to earn a minute of game time in Russia.

He didn’t feature in the closing minutes against France — with youngster Daniel Arzani blooded for his first competitive cap.

He didn’t feature against Denmark either, with Tomi Juric preferred by Bert van Marwijk. In a game where the Socceroos created so many chances — a situation tailor-made for Cahill at 1-1 — fans, footballers and pundits alike were taken aback by the 38-year-old’s failure to feature.

Then as the days counted down to a do-or-die clash with Peru, the wider Australian public — which for so long has seen Cahill and the Socceroos as one and the same — all but campaigned for Cahill to feature against Peru.

They would see their hero on the World stage one more time, though the circumstances would be less than ideal.

When Cahill got his chance, the Socceroos were 2-0 down and lacking inspiration, while his own son had fallen asleep in the stands.

Tim Cahill's son sleeps in the stands. Source: FOX SPORTS

Immediately, Peru’s defence paid the talismanic Australian the respect he deserved — surrounding him at set pieces, limiting his space and desperately working to ensure they would not end up the foiled villain in yet another Cahill-driven fairytale.

On this occasion, the Socceroo would not be the hero.

Cahill finished his day with two shots — neither on target.

As the minutes ticked into injury time, it became clear: Timmy wasn’t going to bail the Socceroos out this time.

There would be no moment of inspiration — no highlight reel or hero tape.

Now, as Australia looks towards its next challenge, the 2019 Asian Cup, it seems clear that will be a campaign without Cahill.

That will be a time for the precocious Daniel Arzani, the unlucky Maclaren and the next wave of attackers — so sorely needed going forward — to take on fresh responsibilities.

“I don’t see Timmy playing on for the national team,” fellow Socceroos great John Aloisi said on Optus Sport.

“Maybe (he’ll play) one or two games or a farewell game. But I don’t see him going on to the Asian Cup.”

Australia's Tim Cahill. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) Source: AAP

After a World Cup where Australia was so often toothless in attack, the time has come for the Socceroos to cut their teeth — without the comfort of Cahill.

But thanks to that iconic No. 4 jersey, a fresh generation of Australians have grown up playing football, practising their headers — and above all, believing they too, can achieve something special.

And that impact will go well beyond the bitter taste of defeat in the Sochi air.