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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a set of expectations. A lot were clear and direct – suitable considering the turmoil surrounding his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was another message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast clearer into view with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, 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 changed, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, appears really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team improved, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing fairly distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment positioned 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.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has expanded. This isn’t just through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with 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 fully have much beyond this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the shift in thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those group can keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to deliver consistently, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations 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 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 congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 watching and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”