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The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a range of requirements. A lot were straightforward and concise – suitable in light of the turmoil following his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was another theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

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

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can rely on has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise 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 return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to push 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 really have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the shift in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those group can hold out hope that, in 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 – continues to play regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt 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 feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

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

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

“I emphasize 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 watching and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”