🔗 Share this article

As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of requirements. A lot were clear and concise – ideal in light of the turmoil following his abrupt appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to secure, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper 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 team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, appears truly at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed 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 snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently 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 – loom large in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines 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 really have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are additional ones 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 brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt on that – to reveal 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 another player that steps up in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something exceptional 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 pat each other on the back 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 observing and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”