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When Tony Popovic eventually gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach detailed a set of standards. A lot were clear and concise – ideal given the upheaval surrounding his sudden entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to prepare for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to deserve, or maintain that distinction. But there was a further message. Not so much an order and more an evocation – and one that has been brought clearer into perspective with each step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something extraordinary, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

Just over a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals are the same. The coach, for one, appears genuinely at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s image for discipline stands in stark contrast with the open and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent interviews with football media. So too have the performances of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia seeming quite far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s international tournament.

Those triumphs 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 performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – loom large in this context.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now believes the selection he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the rise of talented youth such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the examples of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable 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 believe like there are 15, 20 players that have joined that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising appearance of talent, and the shift in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet viewed within 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 miss a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to perform 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 cap or a halt on that – to announce in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that comes in in June?”

But this growth, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and go beyond the predictions others have for them, he wants his team to have the same mindset.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to confine ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and celebrate for being there’.

“I keep saying 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 watching and praising something remarkable from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”