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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a series of expectations. A lot were clear and concise – perfect in light of the disruption surrounding his unexpected entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been cast more distinctly into focus 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 hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently ranked 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 – carry weight in this context.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the selection he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the breakthrough of youngsters 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 sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have joined,” 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 joined that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 deliver consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt on that – to reveal 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 another player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special 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 pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I repeat 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”