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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of expectations. Most were clear and direct – suitable given the upheaval surrounding his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mentality to earn, or keep that honour. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling fairly remote 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 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 surprising precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently 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.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has swelled. This isn’t just through the rise 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 obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected rise of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 play regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to declare 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box 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 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 observing and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”