{‘Why do we have to wait?’: Popovic imposes no boundaries on what Australia can attain.

The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – suitable considering the upheaval around his unexpected arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to deserve, or continue to earn that honour. But there was another point. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Similarly have the results of his team progressed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has expanded. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 really have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can hold out hope 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 deliver consistently, then the coach is making clear 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 know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”