🔗 Share this article

As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a range of standards. A lot were straightforward and direct – ideal in light of the turmoil following his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or maintain that privilege. But there was another message. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations 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, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Likewise have the results of his team progressed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has expanded. This doesn't only come through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge 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 truly have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those group can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – keeps to perform regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“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 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 cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”