Australia are currently third in Group B, three points behind Saudi Arabia and Japan who they meet later in the year.

Cahill said the game “has got to evolve” and made comparisons to critics bagging the style to those who doubted the Socceroos’ potential before winning the 2015 Asian Cup.

After Australia’s 2-2 draw to Thailand away in November, Postecoglou was under immense scrutiny during the recent fixtures, a 1-1 draw to Iraq in Tehran and a 2-0 win over UAE in Sydney where he elected to have three players at the back.

“We’re at the stage, Asian Cup, six months before and they said we were going to struggle and we wouldn’t even come out of our group,” Cahill said.

“Ange said Mile would lift the cup and that was a year prior. In the end we were just standing on the side thinking about that moment saying ‘it’s time to kick on again’ and we have.

“Unfortunately the result against Thailand wasn’t the best one and now it’s about the last three games, so I’m always confident because it’s just business as usual. It’s all about points and playing a great style of football.”

Cahill was involved in the Socceroos’ 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns under Dutch managers Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek.

Cahill: We need the game to evolve

He backed Postecoglou’s boldness after the Australian coach felt he might have received plaudits for his approach, if he was a foreigner, after the UAE win.

“I’ve been around for three world cups and going to my fourth World Cup Qualifying campaign,” Cahill said.

“I can see the style in what he’s trying to do and I think the main thing is, whatever style you put, every style ends up becoming a 4-4-2 whether you like it or not, or a 4-3-3.”

The 37-year-old also said the players had to accept responsibility as professionals to implement the style the coach wants and be accountable for any potential mistakes.

“We’re all professional players that play in big leagues around the world and it takes time,” he added.

“Ange’s thoughts are still, as well as the older and younger players is you want to go to a World Cup and make an impact. Not just stumble in or Confederations Cup and hope for the best when you get there and play it by ear.”