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The moment Tony Popovic at last brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a range of expectations. Most were clear and to the point – ideal given the upheaval surrounding his unexpected entry, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” attitude to secure, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was an additional message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with any step taken on the road 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.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently placed 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 regard.

While Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can rely on has swelled. 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 likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 fully 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 additional ones to come that I believe 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 created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – persists to play regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and go beyond the hopes 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

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