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When Tony Popovic at last assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of standards. The majority were clear and to the point – ideal in light of the upheaval following his sudden entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 unlikely brink of crashing 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 – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now thinks the group he can trust has grown. This doesn't only come through the emergence 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 sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge 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 really have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those ranks can remain optimistic that, come 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 – continues to play steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to declare 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 another player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique 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 emphasize 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 remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”