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As soon as Tony Popovic finally brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of requirements. Most were straightforward and concise – ideal considering the turmoil surrounding his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into view with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning 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 unexpected edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games 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 remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the breakthrough 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 comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible 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 make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, by 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 – continues to play steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a stop on that – to announce 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 one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate 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 observing and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”