Pochettino instills World Cup belief in US squad

When Mauricio Pochettino suggested in March that the USA could be potential winners of this summer's World Cup, few might have believed him. For even though they have been to nine of the past 10 World Cups — including this one — they have gone beyond the last 16 only once in that period, reaching the quarter-finals in 2002. Their best showing remains a semi-final appearance at the very first World Cup in 1930.

But this USA side, led by former Tottenham boss Pochettino, have not only sealed their place in the knockouts of this World Cup with two wins from two, but have also caught the eye with an exciting, attacking brand of football. Football and non-football fans in the States are starting to ask the same question: "Why not us?"

How Pochettino has transformed a nation

In the minutes after the USA's 2-0 win against Australia in their second Group D match in Seattle last week, Pochettino had to pause during a pitchside interview as the American fans loudly serenaded him. Before the tournament, there seemed an uncertainty of feeling towards the Argentine coach, particularly as his commitment to the national team only went to the end of this World Cup.

But with the USA's win over Australia following a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, he now seems to have near-universal backing, having built a team mixing exciting young talent with established performers in Europe's top leagues — one who look capable of upsetting the odds in the coming weeks.

Pochettino has brought belief and aggression, having worked hard to shed the mentality that the USA are World Cup underdogs. On the walls inside the 54-year-old's makeshift office at the team's hotel are the words "why not us?" along with other quotes such as "believe, work, compete" and "now is our time!" That mindset is clear in the players and in their two games so far they have played with swagger.

"I think he brings that South American spirit that we've been missing," USA forward Tim Weah said. "We've always been the good guys, so now it's kind of nice being on the other end and being the aggressor a bit. It's fun. Coach Poch is an amazing coach."

'He's our Braveheart' — USA fans united behind Pochettino

Teams where fans and players are aligned in their beliefs can be particularly dangerous, and it was clear after the win against Australia just how connected the two are. The team, led by Pochettino, went around the pitch at Seattle Stadium applauding the fans, who belted out a rendition of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads — a song that looks set to become the USA's unofficial victory song.

The streets around downtown Seattle afterwards were awash with thousands of celebrating supporters, who continued to chant Pochettino's name.

"He's our Braveheart," said one supporter. "He is the leader who is willing to take us through the fight and the pain until the end. He has brought us a really good era. He doesn't over complicate it and gives us a very straightforward game to watch."

Another added: "I've been a Tottenham fan for the past 16 years and it was our best spell with him in charge. The day he took over the USA was a dream come true for me and look at us now, he wants to win it!"

In Los Angeles, where the USA play Turkey in their final group game (Friday, 03:00 BST), supporters were similarly enthused by Pochettino's impact.

"It feels like even people here who are not big soccer fans are now behind the team, so it is really cool," said one American Arsenal fan, unconcerned by Pochettino's previous allegiance to Gunners' rivals Tottenham. "I feel everything Pochettino has done is pretty positive. I like him. I think he is on the way out after this and that does hurt, though."

Another USA supporter welcomed the winning mentality Pochettino has brought, saying: "I think it is good to have a manager like this who comes in without the American politics. He comes in and he just wants to win."