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The moment Tony Popovic finally gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of expectations. The majority were clear and concise – suitable given the disruption around his abrupt appointment, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something extraordinary, in my first 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 at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently positioned 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 – are significant in this regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has swelled. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a end 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“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 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 watching and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”