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When Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a set of standards. The majority were straightforward and concise – suitable given the disruption around his sudden arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to secure, or keep that distinction. But there was another theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with any 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 meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, looks really comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia feeling quite remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, currently 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 – loom large in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much apart from this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I think 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 rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those group can keep faith that, come 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 steadily, 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 believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, 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 mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 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 cheering something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”