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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a series of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – ideal in light of the upheaval following his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare 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 embrace an “elite” mindset to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently 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 – loom large in this respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true 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 come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those ranks can keep faith 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 consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction 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 another 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 impress him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box 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 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 watching and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”