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When Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of expectations. A lot were straightforward and concise – perfect considering the upheaval surrounding his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those wins 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 unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently ranked 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 – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the selection he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just 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 reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among 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 – continues to perform regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“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 participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 observing and praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”