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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of expectations. Most were straightforward and to the point – ideal considering the turmoil following his sudden appointment, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or keep that honour. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming rather far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 unexpected brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies 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 remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into 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 unexpected appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those circle can hold out hope that, in 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 end on that – to declare 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 possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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