Popovic focused on being 'the best coach I can be'

Popovic, who masterminded a brilliant turnaround to secure automatic qualification for next year's finals, is contracted until the end of the tournament in North America.

It would seem a formality that he gets the job beyond then, but he isn't thinking that far ahead.

"No, in my mind, it's up until the World Cup. That's the agreement we have. And after the World Cup, we'll determine what happens next," Popovic said.

"But in terms of this job, as the head coach of Socceroos, we are planning, not just for now, but we're also planning for the future.

"These young players coming through are not all necessarily going to the World Cup but there is a good chance that a lot of this group that we're trying to form can be a part of the Asian Cup, which will be the following January.

"And regardless of whether I'm here or not, it's my duty to not just think about this World Cup with players, but also think about setting something up that can have us with sustained success and build a future of a new generation of players."

Popovic, 52, has previously tried international club football in difficult stints at Karabukspor and Xanthi.

He wouldn't be drawn on whether he wanted to pursue that again.

"I just want to be, as a coach, the best coach I can be. And right now I'm trying to be the best coach I can be with the Socceroos," he said.

"The experiences that I've had have actually made me better as a manager, as a person, as a leader. So I don't regret any part of my journey that I've had.

"This part of my journey now is special. What will happen in the future - in the future with coaches it can be that the FA says 'we don't want you any longer'. And that's also part of the role that I have as a coach.

"But I'm loving what I'm doing here, and I love the people I work with, and they will get the very best version of Tony Popovic right now that I can give."

Popovic believes he has settled into the nature of international football after a "whirlwind" start to his tenure.

He has also become more open-minded as to the players who can help him succeed.

"I first thought, 'OK, this is my group. Don't really have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better'," he said.

"Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I'm sure there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.

"I'm hoping that I don't change the way I'm thinking."