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The moment Tony Popovic eventually gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a set of standards. The majority were straightforward and concise – perfect in light of the disruption surrounding his abrupt entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with less than three weeks to get ready for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to earn, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional message. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been brought sharper into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems truly at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline sharply contrasts with the open and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 – loom large in this regard.

Although Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those ranks can remain optimistic 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 – continues to perform steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a halt on that – to reveal 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, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something special and exceed the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 observing and praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”