Australia coach Holger Osieck has been sacked after the Socceroos were thrashed 6-0 by France in an international friendly, Football Federation Australia said on Saturday.

Despite guiding them to next year's World Cup finals, the veteran German's position was on the line ahead of Friday's match in Paris after the team was hit for six by Brazil a month ago.

But the latest embarrassing result proved the tipping point and Osieck, 65, has now paid the price.

The FFA said the decision was taken after an internal review of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and the subsequent international matches, including the 6-0 defeat to Brazil on September 6 and the latest hammering by Les Bleus.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy said the long-term interests of Australian football were paramount in making the change.

"The decision is based on the longer term issues of the rejuvenation of the Socceroos team and the preparations for the World Cup and the Asian Cup," Lowy said.

"FFA has set a strategic objective of having a highly competitive team in Brazil and then handing over a team capable of winning the Asian Cup on home soil in January 2015.

"We have come to the conclusion that change is necessary to meet those objectives. I thank Holger for his contribution to Australian football and wish him well in his future endeavours."

FFA chief executive David Gallop said that current Socceroo assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar will be in charge as caretaker of the Socceroos for their next match against Canada in London on Tuesday.

The Socceroos' successive 6-0 defeat drew an angry reaction in Australia after the full-time whistle, with calls for Osieck to go and the Sydney Morning Herald calling it "the most embarrassing pair of results in Socceroos' history".

Calls have been growing for Osieck's head in recent weeks with former coach Guus Hiddink, who led the Socceroos to the 2006 World Cup, seen as a candidate to replace him.

Reports said three A-League coaches: Melbourne Victory's Ange Postecoglou, Western Sydney's Tony Popovic and Central Coast's Graham Arnold could also be in the running.

Asked by Fox Sports after Friday's game whether he was concerned for his future, Osieck replied: "That's not my call. I know two heavy losses to that extent always gives some food for discussion."

In the end FFA made the decision for him.