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

The moment Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of standards. Most were unambiguous and concise – suitable considering the upheaval around his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to secure, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather distant 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 winning streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can trust has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth 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 obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are additional ones 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 thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those group can remain optimistic that, by 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 perform steadily, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

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

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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

“I emphasize 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 sitting back and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”