🔗 Share this article

The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a range of standards. Most were clear and to the point – ideal given the turmoil surrounding his unexpected appointment, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mentality to earn, or maintain that privilege. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast clearer into view with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something extraordinary, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing fairly far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently positioned 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 – are significant in this context.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now feels the group he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 really have much beyond this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can hold out hope 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 – keeps to perform steadily, 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 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 believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the hopes 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine 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 deep 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 special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”