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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a range of requirements. A lot were clear and direct – ideal considering the turmoil surrounding his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling 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 winning 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 entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently 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 regard.

Even though Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has swelled. This isn’t just through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 perform regularly, 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 reveal 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 joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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

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