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The moment Tony Popovic finally gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of expectations. Most were unambiguous and concise – suitable considering the disruption following his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 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 “top-tier” mindset to earn, or maintain that privilege. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my initial 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 ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team improved, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 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 trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the shift in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those group can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to be absent for a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – continues to perform steadily, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop on that – to announce 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 chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and rise above 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors 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 very far 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 special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”