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The moment Tony Popovic eventually gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of standards. A lot were unambiguous and direct – suitable in light of the turmoil following his abrupt entry, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “elite” attitude to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was an additional theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness differs greatly with the open and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a defeat to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming fairly remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches 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 final games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the rise 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 reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have joined 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 unforeseen appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those group 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 steadily, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to reveal 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 chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something special and go beyond the predictions 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 competitors 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 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 sitting back and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”