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When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of standards. A lot were unambiguous and direct – suitable given the disruption surrounding his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional message. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team improved, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently ranked 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 – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he began 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 swelled. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much outside of this. Just get by 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 feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can remain optimistic 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 – keeps to play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance 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 inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and go beyond 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I repeat 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 exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”