'Holding Tim back a tactic'

Tim Cahill was left on the bench because Australia wanted a more mobile strike force to be able to run at a Bangladesh rearguard that was guaranteed to sit back and defend deeply, coach Ange Postecoglou said after watching his side see off their Asian challengers 5-0 in Perth on Thursday evening.

"We knew they would set up defensively and I just wanted to see us be really mobile," Postecoglou said in the post match media conference.

"We wanted to get mobile and technical players out on the pitch. We pushed Massimo Luongo further up the pitch. He is really good in the box. I thought we had plenty of movement [as a result]."

Postecoglou, who was also delighted with the two-goal effort of Tom Rogic on his return to the international stage, also showered praise for workhorse Matthew Leckie, who led the line to great effect in Cahill's absence.

The Australian coach also could not find fault with his team's display.

“It was pleasing, we got off to a really good start, which was important. Overall, I can't fault the players in terms of maintaining their focus and trying to play our style of football to the end."