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As soon as Tony Popovic at last gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of requirements. The majority were clear and concise – perfect given the turmoil around his unexpected appointment, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team improved, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories 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 surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games 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 – loom large in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of young players 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 wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to perform consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and rise above 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 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 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”