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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the new coach presented a range of standards. The majority were unambiguous and direct – perfect in light of the disruption surrounding his sudden arrival, after Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to earn, or keep that privilege. But there was a further point. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown clearer into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something extraordinary, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness differs greatly with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team changed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – are significant in this context.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure 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 thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those group 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 – continues 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 limit or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that steps up 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 exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations 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 confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 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 praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”