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When Tony Popovic at last gathered his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a set of standards. Most were straightforward and concise – ideal given the turmoil around his abrupt arrival, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s resignation, and with under three weeks to prepare for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to wear a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “premier” mindset to secure, or keep that distinction. But there was an additional theme. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown sharper into focus with any step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My visions 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 gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s expectations are the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely at home as Socceroos head. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure speaking freely for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. Likewise have the performances of his team progressed, with thoughts of a setback to Bahrain and stalemate with Indonesia feeling fairly far off after victories over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely edge of crashing pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November warm-up matches against Venezuela, at the moment ranked 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 – carry weight in this context.

While Popovic acknowledges that he started in the job assuming to only be able to depend on a core group of players, he now believes the group he can call upon has expanded. This isn’t just through the emergence of young players such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s return from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s attainable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much beyond this. Just manage 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 unforeseen emergence of talent, and the transformation in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those ranks can keep faith that, come 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 – continues to deliver steadily, 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 end 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 know that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s initial talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something outstanding and exceed the expectations 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders 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 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 praising something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have restrictions? Why not do it now?”