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When Tony Popovic eventually gathered his initial Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of standards. The majority were straightforward and direct – perfect considering the disruption following his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s exit, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mentality to secure, or continue to earn that honour. But there was an additional message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into perspective with every step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions were to do something remarkable, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s ambitions stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the expansive and at times jovial figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia appearing quite distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November exhibition games against Venezuela, currently 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 – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the pool he can rely on has grown. This isn’t just through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s growth into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in thinking it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can keep faith that, by 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 – keeps to deliver consistently, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a limit or a end 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise 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 special 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 celebrate for being there’.

“I emphasize 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 cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”