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The moment Tony Popovic eventually gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of requirements. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – perfect considering the upheaval surrounding his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was a further theme. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into view with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the last games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real 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 completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible 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 make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the change in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can remain optimistic that, come June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – 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 limit or a stop on that – to reveal 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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