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The moment Tony Popovic at last brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a range of standards. A lot were clear and direct – perfect in light of the upheaval following his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “top-tier” attitude to secure, or keep that distinction. But there was an additional point. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs 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 unexpected brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 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 – carry weight in this regard.

Even though Popovic admits that he began in the job thinking to only be able to count on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth 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 fully have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can remain optimistic that, by June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – persists to play 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 cap or a halt 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 expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations 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 special is just ‘we don’t want to have boundaries’,” 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 emphasize 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 observing and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”