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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of expectations. A lot were clear and concise – ideal given the upheaval surrounding his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” attitude to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was another theme. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

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, looks truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 unlikely brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches 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 final games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Even though Popovic admits that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can trust has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising rise of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those circle can keep faith that, by 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 – persists to deliver steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance 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 inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and exceed the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” 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 deep 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 restrictions? Why not do it now?”