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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a set of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – suitable considering the turmoil around his sudden appointment, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or keep that privilege. But there was a further message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes 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 meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances 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 last games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has swelled. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the change in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those circle 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 – keeps to perform consistently, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a end on that – to announce 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 possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”