🔗 Share this article

The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a range of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and concise – perfect considering the disruption following his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” attitude to deserve, or maintain that privilege. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently positioned 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 regard.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected rise of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to be absent for a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to deliver consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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