As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of requirements. Most were clear and to the point – perfect given the disruption surrounding his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.
Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” attitude to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was another point. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the path 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, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline 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. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.
Those triumphs 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 unexpected edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 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.
Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can trust has expanded. This is not only through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.
“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond 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 convinced there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”
This unexpected rise of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst 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 – persists to play steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.
“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt on that – to announce 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 joins in June?”
But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.
“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.
“I emphasize 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 watching and cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”
