U.S. Can Take Crucial Step
In his almost six years as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, Bruce Arena has never been to Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Today, Arena might find out just what an intimidating place it can be when the U.S. plays El Salvador in a World Cup qualifying match that could go a long way to deciding the futures of both teams.
Then again, with El Salvador’s fortunes at a low ebb, Arena might be greeted by a half-empty stadium.
The Americans come into the game with a 26-match unbeaten streak against teams from the North and Central American and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) region and a 1-0-2 record in this qualifying round.
A victory today and another against Panama in Washington on Wednesday would secure the U.S. a place in the six-nation final round next year, with three of those teams guaranteed a trip to Germany in 2006.
For El Salvador, on the other hand, the prospects are bleak and the fans have little reason to cheer. The team was beaten, 2-0, by the U.S. at Foxboro, Mass., on Sept. 4, and then was trounced, 3-0, at home by Jamaica four days later.
Those defeats cost Juan Ramon Paredes his job as coach, and El Salvador subsequently appointed Armando Contreras Palma to the position, but at 1-2-0, only a victory today and another positive result against Jamaica on the road at Kingston can salvage Salvadoran hopes.
In a comment to the Salvadoran newspaper El Diario de Hoy that was picked up by Soccer America magazine, defender Marvin Gonzalez put the game in perspective.
“We know that economically, organizationally and in soccer terms we are inferior to the United States, but we can win,” he said. “I know the people are upset and have little faith in our team, but I have no option but to believe. We are going to work to win and to regain the fans’ confidence in us.”
The task is not impossible. The U.S. barely escaped with 1-1 ties from its other two road games at Jamaica and Panama, both times scoring in the last two minutes.
Also, it is without influential midfielders Claudio Reyna and Chris Armas, both injured. One is the creative force on the team, the other provides oft-needed cover in front of the defense.
Arena does have plenty of depth, however, and while the Americans might not play the sort of soccer their fans demand, they do have the resources to handle the likes of El Salvador, which is 1-11-4 all-time against the U.S.
