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The moment Tony Popovic finally brought together his first Socceroos squad, the new coach outlined a range of standards. Most were unambiguous and concise – suitable in light of the turmoil around his unexpected entry, in the wake of Graham Arnold’s exit, and with less than three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan.

Popovic asserted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to take on an “elite” mindset to earn, or keep that distinction. But there was another point. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into view with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

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

A little more than a year on from that team talk in an Adelaide hotel, a lot of other things have shifted, even if Popovic’s ambitions remain the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity sharply contrasts with the approachable and at times jovial figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent discussions with football media. Likewise have the fortunes of his team progressed, with thoughts of a loss to Bahrain and draw with Indonesia seeming rather far off after successes over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June secured the Socceroos’ spot in next year’s worldwide 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 form that has taken the Socceroos to the surprising precipice of entering pot two in the World Cup draw. The outcomes of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently 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 – are significant in this context.

While Popovic acknowledges that he began in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a key players of players, he now feels the group he can trust has grown. This isn’t just through the rise of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as genuine international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s reappearance from the wilderness and Paul Izzo’s development 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 attainable with players that have entered,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of 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 feel can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This unforeseen rise of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has brought about in Popovic, has created opportunities for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet considered amongst those ranks can hold out hope that, come 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 – persists to perform 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 restriction 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 believe that they have an opportunity. Why can’t there be an additional player that comes in in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first address as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to exceed expectations him, to do something outstanding and rise above the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same attitude.

“Saying I want to do something unique is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to pigeonhole 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 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 limits? Why not do it now?”