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The moment Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a range of expectations. The majority were clear and concise – ideal considering the turmoil following his unexpected arrival, 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 maintained that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” mindset to earn, or continue to earn that honour. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – 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 extraordinary, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, looks truly comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling rather distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak 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 precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 depend on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can call upon has expanded. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just manage 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 believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 regularly, 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 end on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

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