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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of requirements. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – ideal in light of the upheaval surrounding his sudden arrival, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 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 “elite” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was another theme. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with every step taken on the road 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.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – loom large in this context.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has expanded. This isn’t just through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond 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 more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those group can remain optimistic that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – continues to deliver regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory speech 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 mindset.

“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 celebrate for being there’.

“I repeat 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 observing and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”