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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of expectations. The majority were clear and concise – suitable considering the upheaval around his unexpected appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mentality to earn, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further theme. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the results of his team progressed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those wins 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has expanded. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of young players 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 wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those circle can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – persists to deliver steadily, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and rise above the hopes 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 box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way 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 applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”