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The moment Tony Popovic finally gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of standards. A lot were clear and to the point – ideal considering the upheaval around his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to secure, or maintain that privilege. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into view with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the results of his team improved, with recollections 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 worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 surprising brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches 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 remaining games of European qualifying – loom large in this regard.

While Popovic admits that he started in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now feels the group he can trust has expanded. This doesn't only come through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 truly have much apart from 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 convinced there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in mindset 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 circle can keep faith 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 – keeps to deliver consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and exceed the predictions 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 box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 deep 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 remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”