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As soon as Tony Popovic eventually brought together his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of standards. A lot were clear and concise – suitable in light of the turmoil surrounding his sudden appointment, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or keep that honour. But there was an additional message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something extraordinary, in my initial 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 evolved, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears truly settled as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity sharply contrasts with the expansive and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic discussions with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing fairly distant after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game undefeated 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 surprising brink of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The results 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 – are significant in this regard.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the selection he can call upon has swelled. This doesn't only come through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to push Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have entered 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 rise of talent, and the shift in thinking 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 keep faith that, by 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 – persists to perform regularly, then the coach is emphasizing 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 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 introductory speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations 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 box ourselves into ‘let’s be participants 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 observing and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”