🔗 Share this article

When Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of standards. The majority were straightforward and direct – ideal in light of the disruption following his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was another point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team changed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the rise 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 growth 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 possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks 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 – persists to deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know 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 address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the hopes 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 watching and praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”