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

As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a series of requirements. A lot were straightforward and direct – suitable in light of the turmoil surrounding his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast clearer into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems truly settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite remote after wins 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 broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games 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 – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with 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 truly 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 trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected 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 circle can remain optimistic that, by 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 – keeps to deliver steadily, 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 halt on that – to reveal 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk 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 attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique 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 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 sitting back and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”