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As soon as Tony Popovic at last assembled his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a set of standards. A lot were unambiguous and to the point – suitable in light of the turmoil around his unexpected entry, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” attitude to secure, or maintain that privilege. But there was a further theme. Not so much an order and an invitation to excel – and one that has been brought sharper into focus with any 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 hasn’t changed.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s expectations stay the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for strictness sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times jovial figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular interviews with football media. So too have the results of his team improved, with memories of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing rather far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place 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 edge of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies 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 final games of European qualifying – are significant in this regard.

Although Popovic admits that he began in the job assuming to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now believes the selection he can rely on has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough 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 return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely 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 really have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I think like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those ranks can keep faith that, in June next year, they could be on the flight. 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 – persists to play steadily, 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 deep 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 boundaries? Why not do it now?”