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The moment Tony Popovic eventually gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a range of expectations. A lot were unambiguous and direct – perfect in light of the upheaval around his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought sharper into perspective with every step taken on the road 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.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears really at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently 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 context.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can trust has grown. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 really have much apart from this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe 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 surprising rise of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and rise above the expectations 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”