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When Tony Popovic at last gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of expectations. A lot were unambiguous and concise – suitable considering the disruption surrounding his unexpected entry, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the results of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed 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 unexpected precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has swelled. This doesn't only come 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 reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle can remain optimistic that, come 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 – persists to deliver consistently, 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 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 another player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“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 pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go very far 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”