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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach detailed a range of standards. The majority were straightforward and to the point – ideal in light of the disruption following his abrupt entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “elite” mentality to secure, or keep that honour. But there was a further theme. Less a demand and more an evocation – and one that has been cast sharper into view with each step taken on the path 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.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, seems truly comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s image for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team progressed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling rather remote after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global 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 brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches 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 last games of European qualifying – carry weight in this regard.

Even though Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to rely on a key players of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has expanded. 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 examples of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with 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 make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded amongst those circle can hold out hope that, in 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 – persists to play regularly, then the coach is emphasizing they’re in with a shot 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 additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an possibility. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the predictions 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 limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be competitors at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I repeat 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 applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”