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As soon as Tony Popovic at last gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a set of requirements. Most were unambiguous and to the point – perfect given the disruption around his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mindset to deserve, or keep that distinction. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently 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 – are significant in this context.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now thinks the group he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 fully have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise 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 regarded within those ranks can keep faith 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 perform steadily, 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 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 deep 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 cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”