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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a range of requirements. The majority were straightforward and to the point – ideal in light of the turmoil surrounding his sudden appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was a further point. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, 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 shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. So too have the results of his team progressed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable 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 manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those ranks can hold out hope that, in 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 – keeps to deliver steadily, then the coach is making clear 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 reveal 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 possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and rise above the predictions 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 pigeonhole 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 sitting back and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”