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As soon as Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of requirements. Most were clear and to the point – perfect in light of the disruption around his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was a further theme. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately 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, looks really settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs 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 edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches 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 context.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise 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 considered amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 play consistently, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique 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 congratulate ourselves 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 sitting back and praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”