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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a set of requirements. Most were unambiguous and concise – suitable in light of the disruption surrounding his unexpected entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” mindset to secure, or keep that honour. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently placed 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 – carry weight in this context.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the selection he can call upon has swelled. This isn’t just through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 really have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered 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 surprising appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can remain optimistic that, come June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to be absent for a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – continues to perform 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 announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and go beyond the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”