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When Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a series of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and concise – perfect considering the disruption following his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was another theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something extraordinary, 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 changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline differs greatly with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment placed 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.

Although Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the selection he can rely on has expanded. This is not only through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those circle can keep faith that, in 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 play regularly, then the coach is making clear 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 additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial 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 attitude.

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

“I keep saying 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”