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The moment Tony Popovic at last gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of expectations. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – perfect in light of the upheaval following his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” attitude to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team progressed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather remote after victories 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 ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment positioned 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 context.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 fully have much outside of 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 rise of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst 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 sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to perform steadily, then the coach is making clear 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 one more player that joins in June?”

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

“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 contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”