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When Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of standards. The majority were straightforward and concise – suitable given the upheaval surrounding his abrupt appointment, following Graham Arnold’s exit, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” attitude to deserve, or continue to earn that distinction. But there was an additional point. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been cast clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, seems truly settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s standing for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with memories of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing rather far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run 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 unlikely edge of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, at the moment placed 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 – loom large in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now thinks the group he can rely on has grown. This is not only through the rise of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely 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 manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are additional ones to come that I feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those group can keep faith 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 – keeps to play consistently, then the coach is emphasizing 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and rise above 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and pat each other on the back for being there’.

“I repeat it to the group: one day, Australia will go a long way 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 applauding something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”