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The moment Tony Popovic eventually gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and direct – ideal considering the disruption surrounding his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or maintain that distinction. But there was another message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears really at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide 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 unexpected edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the last games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has grown. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising appearance of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among 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 be absent for a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to perform regularly, 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 limit or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed 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 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 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 sitting back and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”