Pochettino quick off the mark as US regain belief

For all the fascination with Mauricio Pochettino's team selection and tactics for his opening game in charge of the United States, perhaps the most significant evidence of the Argentinian's impact came in the opening 15 minutes of the 2-0 friendly win over Panama on Oct 12.

A team who had won just once in their last seven games, all on home soil, and had suffered a dismal early exit from July's Copa America, showed no signs at all of those disappointments as they zipped the ball around the field, looking hungry for possession.

Their opponents, one of the tougher sides to face in the Concacaf region at the moment, had dealt former coach Gregg Berhalter the deadly blow of a defeat at the Copa group stage. But the Americans were clearly up to the task at the Q2 Stadium in Austin.

"(His message is to) have guys play the way they are comfortable playing and being confident going forward with the ball," said 37-year-old captain Tim Ream.