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

When Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a range of standards. A lot were unambiguous and direct – perfect in light of the turmoil around his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mentality to deserve, or keep that honour. But there was an additional message. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, appears really at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness differs greatly with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing fairly distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances 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 respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now thinks the selection he can rely on has expanded. This doesn't only come through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully 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 sure there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the change in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within 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 miss 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 every chance 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads 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 go beyond the expectations 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 contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back 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 praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”