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As soon as Tony Popovic finally gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a set of standards. Most were unambiguous and direct – perfect considering the disruption following his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional theme. Not so much an order and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment placed 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 – are significant in this regard.

While Popovic concedes that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the emergence 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 wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 truly have much apart from this. Just manage 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 trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out 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 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 know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, 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 special 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 sitting back and praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”