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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of standards. The majority were clear and to the point – perfect given the disruption following his unexpected appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to secure, or maintain that distinction. But there was another message. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, seems really at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team changed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning streak 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 precipice of breaking into 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 last games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

Although Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to count on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can call upon has expanded. This doesn't only come through the rise of talented youth 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 wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have entered,” 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the shift in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those group can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 deliver regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to declare 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

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

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 emphasize 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 watching and applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”