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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of requirements. The majority were straightforward and to the point – suitable in light of the upheaval around his sudden entry, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mentality to earn, or maintain that privilege. But there was another point. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – 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 remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Likewise have the results of his team improved, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches 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 remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this context.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can rely on has swelled. This isn’t just through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can keep faith 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 perform steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance 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 inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” 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 repeat 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 sitting back and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”