SOCCEROOS FIRING UP

ANGE Postecoglou has warned his players not to go overboard with physicality in tonight’s crunch World Cup qualifier in Japan.

The coach also declared star midfielders Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic can combine effectively in the Socceroos’ team.

But whether Postecoglou will deploy both in a game that could seal Australia’s spot in Russia next year with a win remains to be seen.

Tomi Juric is nursing “a knock” from his club game from the weekend, but the coach is confident the striker will be fit to play, as he is Trent Sainsbury despite the central defender not playing since injuring his groin two months ago.

Neither Mooy nor Rogic played against Chile at the Confederations Cup, a performance lauded for Australia’s pressing and harassment of their opponent.

There have been calls for the Socceroos to maintain such rage against Japan. But Postecoglou said doing so could walk his side into a trap.

“People have been going on about how great we were at pressing and intimidating the opposition, but that’s because we played against an opponent that likes to play out from the back,” he said.

“We can’t do that in Asia. If I start picking teams to press in the opposition third and they just launch it as they all do into our back third, you’re not going to get that kind of performance.

“What we tried to do with the team is make them tactically flexible enough that regardless of the opposition, we can adjust to it and we can be effective.

“I think people are reading too much into the fact that we had a very good performance in one game and thinking that’s the kind of template, because that’s not how football works.”

Saudi Arabia crashed to a shock 2-1 loss to the UAE yes- terday morning, which eased the pressure valve on the Socceroos somewhat going into tonight’s game.

Saudi Arabia coach Bert Van Marwijk described the loss as “the most disappointing result in two years”.

“We had the opportunity to make an important step for direct placement, and we neglected that. It was completely unnecessary,” Van Marwijk told Football International.

A point is still required to keep Australia’s destiny in its hands, but Postecoglou said his approach had not changed.

The coach said people had to understand the significant workload Mooy and Rogic have endured in the past year.

And he is as definitive as to the question of whether the Huddersfield and Celtic stars can play together.

“They’re totally different players and bring different strengths to it,” he said.

“Their best is ahead of them.

“I have no issue fitting them both in the line-up and I guess the way we want to play should suit those kind of guys.”