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As soon as Tony Popovic finally gathered his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a series of expectations. The majority were straightforward and concise – ideal in light of the turmoil surrounding his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional theme. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been cast sharper into view with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness 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 progressed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling rather distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently 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 – carry weight in this respect.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are additional ones 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 outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those circle can keep faith 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 – continues to deliver consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

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

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