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The moment Tony Popovic at last brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a set of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and direct – suitable given the disruption around his unexpected entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, looks truly at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – loom large in this respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now believes the group he can trust has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising appearance of talent, and the change in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 deliver consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” 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 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 applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”