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As soon as Tony Popovic finally assembled his first Socceroos squad, the new coach detailed a series of standards. Most were unambiguous and direct – suitable in light of the turmoil surrounding his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for critical 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “top-tier” mentality to secure, or maintain that honour. But there was a further message. Less a demand and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown more distinctly into view with any step taken on the journey towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my initial talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That hasn’t changed.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, seems genuinely settled as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s standing for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become semi-regular sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with recollections of a loss to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing quite far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ berth in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game unbeaten run under Popovic, one that was only broken away by the United States earlier this month. It’s momentum that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November exhibition games against Venezuela, at the moment 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 – carry weight in this context.

Even though Popovic admits that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now feels the selection he can trust has swelled. This is not only through the emergence 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 return from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s growth into a bona fide Socceroos keeper with the potential to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has completely changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much beyond this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I feel like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m convinced there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising emergence of talent, and the change in mindset it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded within those ranks can remain optimistic 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 play consistently, then the coach is stating plainly they’re highly likely of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a cap or a stop on that – to announce 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 chance. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, brings us back to Popovic’s introductory address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be participants at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 praising something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”