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When Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a series of standards. Most were unambiguous and to the point – suitable considering the turmoil following his sudden appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mindset to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought more distinctly into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations remain the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps 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 additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and exceed the hopes 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 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 pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”