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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a set of standards. Most were unambiguous and direct – ideal given the disruption around his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mindset to earn, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional message. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought clearer into focus with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals remain the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, presently ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has grown. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable 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 think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has brought about in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can hold out hope that, come 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 perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly 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 inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel 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 introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and go beyond 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 confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 sitting back and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”