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

The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of standards. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – perfect given the turmoil following his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” attitude to secure, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into view with each 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 hasn’t changed.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 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 – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can rely on has expanded. 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 likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 fully have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered 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 surprising appearance of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can remain optimistic that, in 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 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 limit or a stop 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 feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us 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 go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box 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 deep 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 special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”