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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of requirements. A lot were clear and concise – suitable in light of the upheaval around his unexpected appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to deserve, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something extraordinary, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team progressed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently ranked 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 – carry weight in this regard.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine 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 ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising rise of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can keep faith that, come 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 – persists to perform regularly, 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 announce 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 expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and go beyond 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”