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The moment Tony Popovic finally assembled his maiden Socceroos squad, the recently appointed coach presented a range of standards. The majority were unambiguous and concise – perfect in light of the disruption following his sudden entry, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with fewer than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aimed to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to embrace an “top-tier” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that privilege. But there was another message. Less a demand and a call to greatness – and one that has been brought more distinctly into perspective with any step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America.

“My hopes were to do something remarkable, in my first talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That stays constant.”

A little more than a year on from that gathering in an Adelaide hotel, many of other things have changed, even if Popovic’s ambitions are the same. The coach, for one, seems really comfortable as Socceroos boss. The 52-year-old’s reputation for discipline stands in stark contrast with the approachable and at times cheerful figure holding court for over an hour in what have become periodic interviews with football media. Likewise have the results of his team changed, with recollections of a setback to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia appearing fairly remote after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June guaranteed the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide tournament.

Those triumphs 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 breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies 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 remaining games of European qualifying – carry weight in this respect.

Although Popovic acknowledges that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to rely on a main squad of players, he now thinks the selection he can call upon has grown. This is not only through the breakthrough of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the likes of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the sidelines and Paul Izzo’s development into a true Socceroos keeper with the capability to push Maty Ryan.

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

This unexpected appearance of talent, and the shift in outlook it has sparked in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the fringes of the squad. Even those not yet regarded among those circle can remain optimistic that, in June next year, they could be on the plane. 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 – persists to play regularly, 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 end on that – to reveal in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more new faces,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be another player that joins in June?”

But this expansion, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first speech as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something remarkable and exceed the hopes 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 restrictions’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves 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 watching and cheering something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have boundaries? Why not do it now?”