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As soon as Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a set of requirements. A lot were clear and to the point – perfect in light of the disruption around his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was another message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of crashing 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 remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now thinks the selection he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge 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 outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected rise of talent, and the shift in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those group can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 emphasizing they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap 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 feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us 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 go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”