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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of requirements. A lot were clear and concise – ideal in light of the disruption following his sudden appointment, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to deserve, or keep that honour. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly far off after wins 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 surprising precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently placed 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 respect.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the group he can trust has grown. This isn’t just through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 fully have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the shift in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those group can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 deliver steadily, 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 restriction or a stop 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 believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations 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 box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 sitting back and cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”