A painstaking loss by the Socceroos last night has punctuated the fundamentally flawed professional football development pathways in Australia. 

Australia’s hopes for a direct path to the FIFA World Cup were dashed after a pair of late goals by Japan cinched the victory.

Mark Levy said it was evident a lack of chemistry among the Socceroos was enough for Japan to overwhelm the team in front of a mere 14,000-person crowd.

“Last night, I think, was a metaphor for football in our country,” he said. “Last night was a defining moment in Australian football and I don’t say this lightly.

“Football Australia is on its knees. This may take an entire generation of young footballers to recover from.

“Football remains the biggest junior sport in Australia, it’s been that way for decades, but it just can’t be replicated on a professional level.”

Press PLAY below to hear Mark Levy take a look into where the pathways are failing