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As soon as Tony Popovic at last gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and concise – suitable given the disruption surrounding his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to secure, or keep that honour. But there was another point. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. Likewise have the results of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling fairly far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 – loom large in this respect.

Even though Popovic admits that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those circle can hold out hope that, by 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 – keeps to deliver regularly, 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 stop 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 believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

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