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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a series of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and concise – perfect in light of the upheaval around his sudden entry, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was a further message. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the open and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently positioned 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.

While Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This isn’t just 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 comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability 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 truly have much apart from this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those group can keep faith that, in 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 deliver regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to announce 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 opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and go beyond the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“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 pat each other on the back 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 watching and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”