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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of expectations. Most were straightforward and concise – ideal given the upheaval around his sudden appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional message. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. So too have the results of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment placed 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 respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has grown. This doesn't only come through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine 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 come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the change in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those circle can keep faith 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 play steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and exceed the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”