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

As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a range of requirements. The majority were straightforward and to the point – suitable considering the turmoil around his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or keep that privilege. But there was another theme. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown clearer into focus with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team improved, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place 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 unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches 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 – loom large in this context.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 fully have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to deliver consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional 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 celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 watching and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”