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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of standards. A lot were clear and direct – perfect considering the disruption around his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and a call to greatness – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into view with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

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

Approximately a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, looks truly settled as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. So too have the fortunes of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia feeling quite remote after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those wins came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes 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 remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

While Popovic admits that he arrived in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can trust has swelled. This is not only through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally 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 truly have much outside of this. Just make it work and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has paved the way for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet considered among those group can hold out hope that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – keeps to play regularly, then the coach is stating plainly they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

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

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