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The moment Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a set of expectations. The majority were straightforward and concise – suitable considering the disruption following his sudden appointment, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to deserve, or continue to earn that honour. But there was another message. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this regard.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has expanded. 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 return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced there are more 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 outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those circle can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 deliver steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction 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 believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and go beyond the predictions 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 watching and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”