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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of expectations. A lot were straightforward and direct – suitable given the upheaval surrounding his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, 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 aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to secure, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after wins 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 unbeaten run 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 results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 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 respect.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the emergence 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 comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly 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 others to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – persists to deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”