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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a series of standards. A lot were clear and concise – ideal in light of the disruption surrounding his unexpected entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup fixtures against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aimed to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that privilege. But there was a further theme. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with each step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something special, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, appears really comfortable as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the open 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 performances of his team progressed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming quite remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning streak under Popovic, one that was only snapped away by the United States earlier this month. It’s performance that has taken the Socceroos to the unexpected edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies 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.

Although Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now feels the group he can call upon has grown. This doesn't only come through the rise 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 sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to compete with Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected emergence of talent, and the change in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within those group can hold out hope that, in 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 – persists to deliver consistently, then the coach is making clear they’re in with a shot of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt 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 feel that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this growth, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the hopes others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something exceptional is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 restrictions? Why not do it now?”