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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a set of expectations. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – ideal given the turmoil surrounding his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mindset to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something extraordinary, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies 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 respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has expanded. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising rise of talent, and the change in mindset 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 keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 every chance of being part of his plans.

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

But this broadening, in a way, returns us 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 go beyond the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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