As soon as Tony Popovic at last gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – suitable in light of the turmoil surrounding his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.
Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” attitude to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.
“My hopes were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”
Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies 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 last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this context.
Although Popovic admits that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the group he can trust has swelled. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.
“The squad has entirely 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 truly have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into 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 unforeseen rise of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can keep faith that, in 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 – keeps to deliver regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”
But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.
“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 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 boundaries? Why not do it now?”
