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The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and concise – ideal given the turmoil surrounding his unexpected entry, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to deserve, or keep that distinction. But there was a further message. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather 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 broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently 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 respect.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the change in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those ranks can remain optimistic that, by 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 – continues to deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop 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 another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the expectations 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 box 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 keep saying 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 cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”