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When Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a series of expectations. A lot were straightforward and to the point – suitable in light of the upheaval surrounding his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to deserve, or keep that honour. But there was a further theme. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Just over a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently 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 – loom large in this regard.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has expanded. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt 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 feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, 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 special and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 sitting back and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”