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When Tony Popovic finally assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a range of expectations. Most were clear and concise – suitable given the turmoil following his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another theme. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies 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 – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – keeps to perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly 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 additions,” 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 broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” 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 repeat 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 sitting back and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”