An update on the three U.S. opponents in CONCACAF's Group A:
EL SALVADOR. The poor play of El Salvador, one three U.S. opponents in Group A during the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF zone, has become a national affair as Salvadoran President Tony Saca termed the 4-0 loss to Honduras last Tuesday in San Salvador ''shameful.''
Following losses to Honduras and Guatemala (2-0 Friday night in Washington), El Salvador canceled its final warmup scheduled for Aug. 11 against Guatemala before opening Group A play against Panama Aug. 18.
PANAMA. Panama's Colombian coach, Jose ''Cheche'' Hernandez, called up 18 players for the El Salvador game. The squad began training Sunday at Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City.
Only two foreign-based players are in the squad: Ricardo James of Platense (Honduras) and midfielder Gabriel Gomez of Pasto (Colombia). As expected, 37-year-old twins Julio Cesar and Jorge Dely Valdes will lead the Panamanian attack.
A friendly scheduled for this week in Costa Rica was canceled.
JAMAICA. Jamaica technical director Carl Brown said he isn't too worried about the Reggae Boyz's lack of practice before the opening of Group A play against the USA Aug. 18 in Kingston.
'The Americans are going to suffer the same fate,'' Brown told the Observer. ''They are in a position now where they are not going to play any practice games apart from the one they play on [July 11] against Poland so they basically are in the same shoes and they are probably pondering the same questions we are. [Our] players are in pre-season training so we know that physically they will be good,' he said.''
Brown was recently replaced as Jamaica's national team coach by Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni. Lazaroni, who briefly served as Jamaica national team coach in 2000, and his three Brazilian assistants will earn $45,000 a month.