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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a series of standards. Most were unambiguous and to the point – perfect in light of the turmoil following his unexpected appointment, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was another message. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into perspective with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks really settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed 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 ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 – carry weight in this respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can rely on has grown. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity 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 attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the shift in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed amongst those circle can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a stop on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be an additional player that joins in June?”

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

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