{‘Why do we have to wait?’: Popovic places no limits on what the Socceroos can achieve.

As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a range of standards. Most were unambiguous and to the point – suitable given the turmoil surrounding his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mindset to deserve, or continue to earn that honour. But there was a further point. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 surprising brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently positioned 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 – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle can keep faith that, by 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 – keeps to deliver regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I repeat 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 sitting back and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”