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The moment Tony Popovic at last assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a range of standards. Most were clear and direct – perfect considering the disruption around his sudden entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to get ready for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to deserve, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into perspective with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing rather distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently 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.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those group can hold out hope that, come 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 – persists to play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit 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 possibility. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”