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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a set of requirements. Most were unambiguous and to the point – suitable given the upheaval around his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was another message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, seems truly settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked 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 ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently ranked 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 – carry weight in this regard.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has expanded. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough 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 comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge 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 fully have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those circle can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – continues to perform steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to declare 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I repeat 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 exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”