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The moment Tony Popovic finally gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a range of standards. The majority were unambiguous and to the point – perfect considering the upheaval around his unexpected appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another message. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, looks truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team progressed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing fairly far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth 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 unlikely precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently positioned 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 – carry weight in this respect.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now thinks the pool he can rely on has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development 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 possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the shift in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle 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 – keeps to play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a stop on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors 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 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”