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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a set of requirements. A lot were unambiguous and concise – ideal in light of the disruption following his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to earn, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional theme. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my introductory 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 expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, looks truly at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins 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 unlikely edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 – are significant in this respect.

Although Popovic admits that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count 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 authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much apart from 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 trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those ranks can remain optimistic that, in 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 stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to reveal 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 possibility. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and exceed the expectations 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

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