🔗 Share this article

As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a series of expectations. The majority were straightforward and to the point – perfect given the turmoil following his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mindset to earn, or keep that distinction. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming fairly far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this context.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now thinks the selection he can trust has swelled. This doesn't only come through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 play steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance 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 additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and rise above the hopes 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine 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 repeat 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 watching and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”