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The moment Tony Popovic at last gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of standards. A lot were clear and direct – perfect given the disruption surrounding his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to earn, or maintain that privilege. But there was another theme. 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 expectations were to do something special, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image 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 interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning 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 surprising precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results 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 final games of European qualifying – carry weight in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the group he can trust 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 cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” 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 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 appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

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

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and exceed the hopes 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I keep saying it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way 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 boundaries? Why not do it now?”