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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of requirements. The majority were straightforward and to the point – ideal in light of the upheaval surrounding his unexpected appointment, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast sharper into perspective with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

A little more than 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 genuinely settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming rather distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games 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 remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this context.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the pool he can trust has swelled. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those group can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 deliver steadily, then the coach is emphasizing 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 inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine 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 deep 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 limits? Why not do it now?”