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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of requirements. A lot were clear and to the point – ideal given the turmoil following his sudden arrival, following 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 wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or keep that honour. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been cast clearer into perspective with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something remarkable, 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, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team changed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently ranked 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 – are significant in this context.

Although Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has swelled. This isn’t just through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are more to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the change in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those circle can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – keeps to perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a end on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” 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 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 observing and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”