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When Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of expectations. A lot were straightforward and direct – suitable in light of the disruption surrounding his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently ranked 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 – loom large in this respect.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can trust has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected rise of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can remain optimistic 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 stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a end 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 believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back 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 observing and cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”