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The moment Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of expectations. A lot were straightforward and to the point – ideal given the disruption surrounding his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mentality to secure, or keep that honour. But there was another theme. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity differs greatly with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games 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 final games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has expanded. 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 cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 fully have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 play consistently, 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 stop on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the predictions 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 observing and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”