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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a range of standards. Most were unambiguous and to the point – perfect considering the upheaval surrounding his unexpected arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mentality to deserve, or keep that distinction. But there was another point. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been cast sharper into view with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks genuinely at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely precipice of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 – loom large in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has swelled. This is not only through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has entirely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t truly have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m sure there are additional ones to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered within those ranks can hold out hope that, come 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 – continues to perform consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more inclusions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up 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 go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” 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 emphasize 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 observing and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”