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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of expectations. Most were unambiguous and direct – perfect in light of the turmoil surrounding his sudden entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mentality to earn, or keep that distinction. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing quite distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can rely on has expanded. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge 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 fully have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those group can keep faith that, by 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 perform consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a end on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the predictions 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”