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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a series of expectations. The majority were clear and concise – ideal in light of the turmoil around his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mindset to deserve, or continue to earn that honour. But there was a further point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite far off after victories 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 snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently positioned 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 – loom large in this respect.

Although Popovic admits that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now feels the selection he can trust has grown. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability 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 beyond this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those group 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 perform consistently, 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 halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” 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 growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”