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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his initial Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a series of standards. The majority were clear and direct – perfect given the turmoil surrounding his unexpected arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to deserve, or keep that honour. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. Similarly have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of entering 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 admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can trust has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough 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 comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 really have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle 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 – continues to perform regularly, then the coach is stating plainly 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back 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 watching and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”