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When Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a range of requirements. Most were unambiguous and to the point – perfect in light of the upheaval following his sudden arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations 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 gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, looks truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the results of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results 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 remaining games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now feels the pool he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development 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 joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel 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 unexpected emergence of talent, and the shift in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a stop 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 cheering something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”