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When Tony Popovic at last brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a range of expectations. The majority were clear and concise – suitable given the upheaval around his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” attitude to earn, or keep that distinction. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently ranked 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.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has grown. This isn’t just through the rise 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 reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 perform consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a end on that – to announce 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 possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations 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 unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”