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The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of requirements. A lot were straightforward and concise – perfect in light of the upheaval following his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment positioned 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 – carry weight in this context.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has expanded. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have joined,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those circle can hold out hope that, come 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 – persists to play regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

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

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

“I keep saying 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”