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The moment Tony Popovic finally gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of standards. The majority were straightforward and concise – ideal considering the disruption surrounding his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” attitude to deserve, or keep that honour. But there was another message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with any step taken on the road 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 meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team progressed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling quite distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies 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 remaining games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

Although Popovic admits that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now feels the pool he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the breakthrough of youngsters 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 wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those ranks can hold out hope that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 stating plainly they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 observing and praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”