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When Tony Popovic finally gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a series of requirements. A lot were straightforward and direct – ideal in light of the disruption around his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” attitude to secure, or keep that privilege. But there was another message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into view with each step taken on the road 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.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins 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 unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the group he can rely on has swelled. This is not only 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 sidelines 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 achievable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to perform steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

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

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special 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 congratulate ourselves 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 watching and cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”