http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41997-2002Sep19.html This here is a bad idea. I'm thinking I'd rather go see the US v. just about anyone else. The atmosphere at RFK when there is one Salvadoran on the opposing team is edgy and slightly dangerous. If you extrapolate, playing their national side could get downright ugly. Many diehard DC fans are skeptical about attending already. Someone needs to tell the USSF that playing teams whose governments we have tried to overthrow in the nation's capital is not a good idea. Note to mods: Wasn't sure where to place this thread. It's news, but its about travel. I won't be offended if its moved.
Isn't El Salvador a powder-puff team? Didn't we just kill them 4-0 with a McBride hattrick in the Gold Cup? We should not play a weak team like this again. But, I'm sure there's only one motive for this game and it involves the green stuff (no... not weed). Typical USSF.
I'm sure that the game has a two-fold meaning: the obvious cash flow for the USSF and an opportunity for some younger players to be capped and get used to walking on to the field as part of the national team.
perfectly reasonable game to give the young guys a chance. Arena will not blood new guys against Germany or Italy. So this makes perfect sense.
Better yet, Agoos. Surely the flying bottles of urine would find his head at least once or twice, no?
Now I know BigSoccer has gone to pot when Segroves begins to make sense and is -– dare I say? –- agreeable. Oh, woe, I used to think there were certainties in life, but now I have been stricken with doubt and a sense that the rest of my fragile belief system will soon come crashing down around me! But seriously, I have no problem with a friendly against El Salvador at RFK if it helps to fill the coffers of USSF. Hopefully some of that money will make its way to youth development programs. In an atmosphere such as RFK, we can give caps to some younger players with promising futures, in a pro-El Salvadoran environment without actually traveling to Central America. Everyone’s a winner here: immigrant El Salvadoran fans (and their descendents, if they choose to support El Salvador), USSF coffers, US fans (for getting to see our men whoop up on a hapless Central American minnow), young US players with little or no caps.... Did I miss anyone? Maybe McBride will even play and make a hash of things so that Segroves can return to his old reliable self once more.
In person is fine as long as the close the seat in the second tier. I'm not trying to catch a bottle to the head or anything.
Maybe ussf can try to control sales again and limit the number of Salvadorians at RFK.!I have mixed feelings on this possible matchup-could get ugly but would be chance to see USMNT live. As said would be good to see some new blood ,but if this happens you better make sure you get a solid ref to officiate match and make damn sure your security is good. No offense to any Salvadorians just stating what most already know.DCU would only have had 5k last night without their support what a damn shame 13,000 for a crucial game could have made a difference with 20k or more.
Comeon, the whole point of this is to make money. Which for a friendly is fine as who cares if we win and if the team gets experience playing in front of a hostile crowd without leaving the US, all the better. And, of course, there are legal concerns. And given the whipping we gave them in the Gold Cup, I doubt whether the USMNT is that scared anyway.
The Salvadorans are crazy when Cienfuegos or Diaz Arce come to town for MLS games. I can't imagine what the atmosphere will be like for their national team. I would warn anyone planning to go to be very careful, like traveling to a game in Central America careful. They seem to enjoy causing trouble at DC matches and I am sure this will be no exception. I can seriously see the crowd being 90-10 in favor of the Salvadorans. A lot of people I know from DC are already planning on skipping the match, and it hasn't even been finalized yet.
In years past ES fans could of been confident about beating the U.S.. Now they can only hope to do so. Their FA is in ruins, they dont even have a National Team coach. Not only that but their MLS players must pay their own air fare if they want to go practice with the team in ES.. Of all the die hard Latino footy fans, the ES are most likely to convert to the USMNT. Their team blows and will most likely not make the HEX again. All you need is another Hugo Perez in your Squad ans the salvadoreans will forget about Diaz Arce and Cienfuegos who are old and on their way out. Every time Mexico plays at the Coliseum ES come out in full force to support the opossing team even if its Butan or Monsserat. They allready hate Mexico and in time they will have no choice but to be US fans.. Maybe you can sucker them in with Quijano
1) Stand up yourself. 2) We helped their government battle an insurgency. 3) If anyone wants to target soccer fans because of Cold War crap that went down twenty years ago, bring it right on. 4) They're a crap team.
We beat them 4-0 during the Gold Cup, but it would have been 7-0 had our finishing not been crappy that day. El Salvador sucks big time. I hope the USSF can find us a better opponent to play.
After the MLS season, we have a long off-season. It's a great opportunity to look at new players - Twellman, a long list of defenders, etc. A great opportunity to stay in shape, and start preparing for 2004 qualifying. If we can make some money in the process - so much the better. GO USA!
The finishing wasn't that bad, as I recall, considering rain was dumping down pretty hard for much of the game. Awful weather, but I had a great time at that one, despite the rain.