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When Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a set of expectations. A lot were unambiguous and direct – suitable in light of the disruption around his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, looks really settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, 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’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning streak 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 unlikely edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches 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 last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can trust has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can remain optimistic that, in 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 – continues to play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a end 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 know that they have an chance. 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 introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the expectations 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 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 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”