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The moment Tony Popovic at last gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of requirements. The majority were clear and to the point – ideal in light of the turmoil surrounding his sudden arrival, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or maintain that privilege. But there was another message. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been cast sharper into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears really settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 – are significant in this context.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain 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 shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. 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 – persists to perform consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re every chance 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 possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads 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 remarkable and exceed the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 observing and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”