{‘Why do we have to wait?’: Popovic imposes no boundaries on what the Socceroos can accomplish.

When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a series of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – perfect given the disruption around his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another point. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought more distinctly into focus with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling rather distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 unexpected precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment placed 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 respect.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now feels the pool he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable 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 manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered 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 emergence of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those circle can remain optimistic that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to deliver steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

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

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I repeat 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 cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”