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

The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of standards. The majority were clear and to the point – suitable in light of the upheaval following his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that honour. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into focus with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, looks really at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning 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 surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of 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 others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – continues to deliver regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to reveal 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 broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and go beyond 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 pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 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 remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”