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When Tony Popovic finally gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of standards. A lot were unambiguous and concise – ideal given the disruption around his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was a further theme. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been cast clearer into perspective with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

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 ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the results of his team progressed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming quite far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently placed 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 – loom large in this respect.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are others 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 among 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 miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a end 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 feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique 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 keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go very far 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”