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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of expectations. The majority were straightforward and direct – suitable given the upheaval around his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that honour. But there was another message. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective 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 stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs 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 unlikely brink of crashing 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 last games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has expanded. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt 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 believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I repeat 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 watching and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”