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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his first Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach outlined a range of standards. A lot were clear and concise – ideal considering the turmoil following his sudden arrival, following Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to get ready for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic maintained that any player who hoped to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mindset to deserve, or maintain that honour. But there was an additional theme. More an inspiration and more an evocation – and one that has been cast clearer into view with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something special, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Approximately a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, looks truly at home as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity differs greatly with the expansive and at times cheerful figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team improved, with memories of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia appearing fairly far off after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ place in next year’s international tournament.

Those victories came as part of an 11-game winning 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 surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The performances of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently placed 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this regard.

While Popovic concedes that he started in the job thinking to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now feels the selection he can call upon has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s comeback from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s growth into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the capability to compete with Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s possible with players that have come in,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t fully have much apart from this. Just get by and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have entered that, and I’m certain there are others to come that I believe can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen appearance of talent, and the change in mindset it has brought about in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the edges 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 – continues 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 restriction 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 know that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s initial speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to impress him, to do something remarkable and rise above the hopes 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 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 pat each other on the back 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 applauding something exceptional from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”