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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of requirements. Most were clear and concise – perfect given the disruption surrounding his abrupt arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was another point. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been cast clearer into view with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations 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 team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears really comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Similarly have the results of his team improved, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming rather far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently positioned 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 context.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the group he can call upon has expanded. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge 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 get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those ranks 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 play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop 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 an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and rise above the hopes 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go very far 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”