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When Tony Popovic eventually brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a set of requirements. The majority were clear and direct – suitable considering the upheaval surrounding his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or keep that privilege. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast clearer into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, 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 expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks truly comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories 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 unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 context.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can rely on has grown. 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 examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – keeps to perform regularly, 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 halt on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and rise above the predictions 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 celebrate 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 cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”