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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a set of requirements. Most were clear and direct – ideal considering the upheaval surrounding his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been cast sharper into perspective with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming rather far off 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 undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies 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 final games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the selection he can trust has swelled. This doesn't only come 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 sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are others 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 thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can hold out hope that, come 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 – persists to deliver regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”