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The moment Tony Popovic at last gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a range of expectations. The majority were straightforward and direct – perfect given the disruption around his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global 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 outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently placed 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 – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now believes the pool he can trust has expanded. This isn’t just 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 comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with 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 fully have much beyond this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence 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 regarded amongst those ranks can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 play regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and exceed 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 contenders 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 deep 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”