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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of requirements. Most were clear and to the point – perfect considering the turmoil around his unexpected arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to deserve, or continue to earn that honour. But there was another theme. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 performances 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 last games of European qualifying – loom large in this context.

Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now feels the group he can call upon has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into 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 surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – 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 limit or a halt 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 joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first 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 hopes 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 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 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”