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The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of expectations. The majority were unambiguous and direct – ideal in light of the upheaval surrounding his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mindset to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was another message. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into view with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times jovial 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 memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this context.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the group he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the rise of talented youth 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 obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable 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 think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered among 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 – keeps to play steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a stop 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”