{‘Why do we have to wait?’: Popovic places no restrictions on what the Socceroos can achieve.

When Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a series of requirements. Most were unambiguous and direct – ideal given the disruption following his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” attitude to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast clearer into focus with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently positioned 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can rely on has expanded. This is not only through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the change in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those circle can keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to deliver regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go very far in the World Cup. And why not this group? Why do we have to wait two or three World Cups, when I’m sitting back and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”