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The moment Tony Popovic at last brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of expectations. A lot were clear and to the point – suitable given the upheaval around his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into view 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.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak 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 precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently ranked 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 – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come 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 return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have come in,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

But this broadening, 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 outstanding and exceed the expectations 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 sitting back and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”