With Saturday's soccer spotlight shining on Rosario, Copenhagen, Budapest, Basel, Bratislava and even San Jose, Costa Rica, the U.S. national team is faced with a flattering yet potentially problematic scenario -- playing a World Cup qualifier that will be big news only if it loses.Without a home qualifying loss to anyone since 2001 and boasting a 10-0-2 all-time record (with five straight shutouts) against El Salvador on U.S. soil, the Americans (3-2-1) would appear to have little to fear from the Cuscatlecos (1-3-2) at Rio Tinto Stadium outside Salt Lake City (ESPN Classic, 8 p.m. ET). But injuries and suspensions are a factor, and the tightening CONCACAF standings give the hosts no room for error.
The U.S. national team program has progressed to a point unthinkable a couple of decades ago. There are games, even World Cup qualifiers, that it's supposed to win without too much trouble. Saturday evening's is one of them. El Salvador has not been competitive when traveling to the U.S. and squandered a late two-goal lead six months ago in San Salvador. The Americans, even when not at full strength, have had little trouble with CONCACAF's lesser lights.
But there is an added element of pressure for the U.S. in this game. Last month's loss in Mexico City left the four World Cup favorites tightly bunched, and automatic qualification to South Africa is available to only three. The U.S. plays in Trinidad on Wednesday, and then faces much tougher games against Honduras and Costa Rica to close out qualifying. Failing to secure all six points in the next two games will add far more intrigue and tension to the stretch run than should be necessary, perhaps even leaving qualification to chance.
"There's pressure [because the U.S. is at home] but there's more pressure because there are four games left and this is the World Cup at our fingertips. If we lose points in this game or the Trinidad game, it's going to hurt us and there's no more room for that," Landon Donovan said. The Los Angeles Galaxy forward will set the national team's all-time qualifying apperance record (32) on Saturday.
"It's an interesting scenario, but these two games are games we feel we need to win if we want to get to the World Cup."
Coach Bob Bradley's main challenge will be in back, where Oguchi Onyewu is suspended because of a yellow card in Mexico City and Jay DeMerit likely is out with a groin injury. It seems likely that captain Carlos Bocanegra, who moved out wide during the Confederations Cup, will return to the middle. The word from Utah is that Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall, who played decently at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup, will make his qualification debut alongside the Rennes-based veteran. Bradley can choose from Jonathans Spector and Bornstein and Steve Cherundolo for the two outside spots.
The midfield should contain few surprises, but the most interesting questions will be answered up top. Bradley could stay conservative and once again call on the predictable but very unspectacular Brian Ching, or he could embrace the future and pair Charlie Davies with Jozy Altidore, each of whom already has scored for their new clubs in Europe. Count FanHouse as a proponent of the latter.
No matter who's on the field, that team will be better than El Salvador on paper. In the past, that's been sufficient. But if something goes wrong on Saturday, the U.S. could be in a world of hurt heading into the final three games. Bradley expressed confidence.
"I think the group is ready for this final stretch of qualifying. Playing at home is always something that means a lot to all of us, so I expect a great effort and a great result," he said.
