El Salvador is in for the kind of return-leg beating that is reserved for a team that pulls a point at home behind a home crowd with air-raid sirens. I'm thinking along the lines of Panama 2004. Arturo should enjoy that.
I must say that he looks like he belongs but you can still see that American "happy-go-lucky-ness"...maybe thats because he will be playing at the cuscatlan.
He played his first game for the El Salvador national team, coming on as a halftime sub in the WCQ against Trinidad & Tobago.
A bit of a post script, although it doesn't involve Alvarez: there are players getting to a WC finals thanks in part to Fifa's rule change -- http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/news/story?id=698409&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901
Germany also lost Kevin-Prince Boateng to Ghana. He hasn't been capped yet, and may not start for Ghana, but Stephen Appiah's knee could give out at any time.
Arturo Alvarez To Play For El Salvador and now he's taken Steve Purdy with him! http://portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/05/timbers-danso-gleeson-purdy-called-national-teams
I was gonna say, if he's not the tallest player in El Salvador NT history, he's got to be damn close. Good for him. He was never gonna play for the US so why not? My first choice would always be to play for the US but it it came down to playing international soccer for another national team or not playing international soccer because the US wasn't interested, I damn sure know what choice I'd make. That said, buyer beware. You're getting a 26-year old with 11 first division games under his belt. I don't meant to speak ill of the guy, but there's a reason he's available.
Now we only do it if they play leftback Ponce https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1735669 Gasecki https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1735669
Eh, more than likely. But you never know. They have played you guys well outside of Mexico. A tie would probably feel like a win to them.
Arturo scored his 1st goal in an ES jersey yesterday : [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMEI1V3aPz4&feature=channel_video_title"]YouTube - Gold Cup: Alvarez scores for El Salvador‏[/ame] As for Purdy, he did not appear in any of the group matches and has yet to make his debut.
Purdy via twitter: On our way to DC... My teammates tell me RFK stadium is going to fill up with Salvadoreños sunday.. Cant wait to see about 17 hours ago Wonder if the stadium will fill up early and who those 6pm fans might be cheering for (or against) in the 3pm match.
Timbers Steve Purdy called up by El Salvador National Team http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2012/05/timbers-steve-purdy-called-el-salvador-national-team