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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of requirements. Most were straightforward and concise – suitable considering the turmoil surrounding his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to get ready 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 take on an “elite” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was another point. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into focus with every 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 stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team improved, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies 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 – are significant in this regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can rely on has expanded. This is not only through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered 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 surprising appearance of talent, and the change in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those circle can remain optimistic that, come June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – persists to perform steadily, then the coach is making clear 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 additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”