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When Tony Popovic at last assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of expectations. Most were unambiguous and concise – ideal considering the disruption around his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mentality to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was a further theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been cast more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with 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 beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those ranks can keep faith that, come 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 – persists to deliver consistently, 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 end on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special 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 pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I repeat 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 boundaries? Why not do it now?”