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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a series of expectations. The majority were straightforward and concise – perfect given the disruption following his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” attitude to deserve, 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 focus with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team progressed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth 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 come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – continues to perform steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap 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 joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and rise above the predictions 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 sitting back and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”