Two days before the United States' first World Cup game, coach Mauricio Pochettino only took questions from one intrepid reporter and it was Sesame Street's Grover.
"Have you ever tried to motivate the team with snacks?"
The manager gamely played along, even if he appeared slightly perplexed to be chatting with a fluffy blue monster puppet, yards away from where his team were beginning a critical training session.
Earlier this week, Argentinian coach Pochettino kicked off a public training session by grabbing the microphone and leading 5,500 fans in "USA! USA" chants at the team's training base in Irvine, California.
"For the players it is so, so, so amazing and so important to receive your warm energy and all your love," he instructed supporters.
Other unorthodox efforts to reach Americans who don't always follow soccer this week included a fashion photoshoot with Flaunt magazine, featuring midfielder Malik Tillman in a vast mushroom-shaped couture hat.
Commercial obligations aside, courting the American public could deliver marginal gains that may be useful as the US tackle a fiercely competitive Group D including Friday's opening opponents Paraguay, Australia and Turkey.
