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When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a set of expectations. Most were straightforward and concise – perfect considering the disruption following his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was another point. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of breaking into 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 last games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has expanded. This is not only through the emergence 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 obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push 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 outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the change in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those circle can keep faith that, in 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 perform regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a end 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 feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in 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 exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the expectations 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 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 sitting back and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”