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The moment Tony Popovic eventually assembled his initial Socceroos squad, the fresh coach presented a range of standards. The majority were straightforward and concise – perfect considering the turmoil surrounding his abrupt appointment, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to prepare for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who aspired to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “premier” mentality to secure, or keep that privilege. But there was an additional message. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with each step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes 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 ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, seems really settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for strictness stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become semi-regular discussions with football media. Similarly have the results of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing quite remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ place in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak 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 unexpected brink of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, presently placed 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 – are significant in this respect.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now thinks the pool he can rely on has swelled. This is not only through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as authentic international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s development into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to challenge 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 outside of this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m convinced there are more to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has sparked in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those circle can remain optimistic 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 – keeps to deliver steadily, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance 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 new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be one more player that joins in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, returns us to Popovic’s introductory talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and rise above 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 boundaries’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I repeat 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”