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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually gathered his first Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a range of requirements. Most were unambiguous and concise – ideal considering the upheaval around his sudden entry, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to secure, or keep that honour. But there was another point. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown clearer into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming rather 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 unbeaten run 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 unlikely precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 final games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the group he can rely on has swelled. This is not only 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 reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 certain there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those group can keep faith that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 play 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 cap or a stop on that – to declare 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 believe that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” 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 keep saying 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”