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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a range of requirements. Most were straightforward and to the point – perfect in light of the upheaval following his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mindset to secure, or maintain that privilege. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling rather distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Even though Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can trust has swelled. This isn’t just through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected rise of talent, and the change in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can keep faith that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to deliver consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop 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 believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and go beyond the expectations 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 watching and praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”