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As soon as Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a series of standards. Most were unambiguous and concise – perfect in light of the disruption following his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to secure, or continue to earn that honour. But there was an additional point. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast more distinctly into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing rather far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs 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 momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, presently placed 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 – loom large in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

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

This surprising rise of talent, and the change in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those circle can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – continues to perform regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a end on that – to announce 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 know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something special and go beyond the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I repeat 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”