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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a series of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and direct – perfect considering the upheaval following his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” attitude to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was a further point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, appears truly settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the results of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming rather distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – loom large in this context.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can trust has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability 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 really have much apart from this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – keeps to play consistently, 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 stop on that – to declare 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 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 applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”