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As soon as Tony Popovic finally assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a range of expectations. The majority were straightforward and concise – perfect considering the disruption surrounding his abrupt appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to earn, or continue to earn that honour. But there was another message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast sharper into view with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling rather remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories 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 unlikely precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently positioned 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the last games of European qualifying – loom large in this respect.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now feels the group he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced 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 thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can remain optimistic 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 – keeps to perform regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to announce 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 possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special 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 confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 watching and praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”