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When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a series of expectations. A lot were straightforward and direct – suitable considering the upheaval around his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming quite distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins 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 crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently 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 – are significant in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can trust has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push 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 apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit 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 know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and exceed the hopes 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 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 deep 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 applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”