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As soon as Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of requirements. The majority were clear and direct – suitable in light of the turmoil surrounding his unexpected arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was another point. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into view with each step taken on the journey 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.”

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team progressed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak 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 unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently ranked 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 – carry weight in this context.

Although Popovic concedes that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now feels the pool he can trust has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected rise of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those circle can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – keeps to perform consistently, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a end 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 believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the predictions 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box 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 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?”