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

As soon as Tony Popovic at last brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of requirements. A lot were straightforward and concise – perfect considering the disruption following his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional message. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something extraordinary, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins 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 surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the last games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

While Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can trust has expanded. This is not only through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

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

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way in the World Cup. And why not this group? Why do we have to wait two or three World Cups, when I’m observing and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”