🔗 Share this article

When Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of standards. The majority were unambiguous and concise – ideal considering the upheaval around his sudden arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional theme. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 final games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now feels the pool he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the rise 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 return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just make it work 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 trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those ranks can keep faith that, come 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 – persists to play regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a stop on that – to reveal 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations 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 celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 observing and praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”