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When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a series of expectations. The majority were straightforward and direct – perfect given the disruption around his unexpected appointment, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or maintain that distinction. But there was another point. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently placed 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 – loom large in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable 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 get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can keep faith that, come 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 – keeps to play regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt 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 chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads 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 special and rise above the hopes 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors 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 a long way 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 exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”