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

As soon as Tony Popovic at last brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a series of requirements. The majority were clear and concise – perfect considering the upheaval surrounding his sudden arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was another message. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been cast clearer into perspective with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the results of his team progressed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of entering 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 last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this context.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has grown. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those group can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – 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 restriction or a halt on that – to announce 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and exceed 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”