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As soon as Tony Popovic at last gathered his first Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of standards. A lot were clear and concise – suitable given the upheaval around his unexpected arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that honour. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, appears really at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling fairly distant after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins 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 performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently 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 concedes that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now feels the pool he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential 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 truly have much apart from this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are more to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the shift in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, in 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 perform 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something outstanding and rise above the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors 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 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 watching and applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”