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As soon as Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of requirements. Most were clear and to the point – suitable considering the upheaval following his abrupt appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing quite far off after victories 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 winning streak 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 brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the group he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the shift in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those ranks can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – continues to deliver steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a end 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 feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 sitting back and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”