🔗 Share this article

The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of standards. The majority were straightforward and to the point – ideal considering the turmoil surrounding his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was another message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought sharper into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games 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 last games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can rely on has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced 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 transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those ranks can keep faith that, come 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 regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely 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 chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, 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 remarkable and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“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 participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”