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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of expectations. Most were clear and concise – ideal in light of the turmoil following his unexpected appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into view with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling quite far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment positioned 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 – are significant in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the emergence of youngsters 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 blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those group can keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to deliver regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us 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 exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors 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 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 exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”