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When Tony Popovic finally gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a set of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and direct – ideal given the disruption around his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was a further point. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with each step taken on the road 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.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming quite distant 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 undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has swelled. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 really have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those group can remain optimistic that, come 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 – continues to perform 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 limit or a stop on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back 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 sitting back and cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”