By Mike Woitalla

If there's anything the U.S. national team coach doesn't need now is a poor performance from his team in El Salvador in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

Last week, in the New York Times, Bruce ''No One Gets It'' Arena lashed out at MLS, U.S. Soccer and those who weren't impressed with his team's last-gasp 1-1 tie in Panama City. He was forced to issue an apology.

Forgiveness will be more likely if he guides his team to a convincing win against the last-place team in Group A.

El Salvador, like all three U.S. semifinal-round foes, has never beaten the USA in official competition. So far in Group A play, El Salvador beat Panama, 2-1, at home before falling 2-0 to the USA in Foxboro, Mass., and losing 3-0 at home to Jamaica.

The first USA-El Salvador game was a 90-minute train wreck that featured a jewelry red card for Salvadoran Denis Alas and was highlighted only by nice Brian Ching and Landon Donovan goals. The Americans, who started the semifinal round with a 1-1 tie against Jamaica thanks to an 89th minute Ching goal, looked uninspired against Panama but lead the group with five points.

Ching, however, is injured, as is captain Claudio Reyna. In their successful qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup, three of the Americans' four losses came when Reyna was sidelined.

Without Reyna, Chris Armas or long-injured John O'Brien, Kerry Zavagnin and Pablo Mastroeni are candidates to keep the U.S. midfield cohesive.

More will be expected from DaMarcus Beasley than he offered on the left wing against Panama and Arena must again decide whether to play Landon Donovan in the midfield or upfront. The latter seems necessary based on the ineffectiveness of Brian McBride and Conor Casey. Josh Wolff, Clint Mathis and uncapped Eddie Johnson are Arena's other upfront options.

Tony Sanneh could play right midfield if Donovan moves upfront although Sanneh's best U.S. performances have been at right back, where Frankie Hejduk played in the previous two road games.

Options abound on the backline. Veteran Gregg Berhalter rejoins the squad after a four-month injury absence and could team up in the central defense with Eddie Pope in the combo that worked well at the 2002 World Cup. That could put Carlos Bocanegra at left back if Arena doesn't go with Bobby Convey.

EL SALVADOR ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS
Misael Alfaro (Aguila), Luis Castro (FAS), Santos Rivera (Municipal Limeno).

DEFENDERS
Marvin Benitez (Aguila), Julio Castro (San Salvador FC), Alex Escobar (Isidro Metapan), Edwin Gonzalez (Municipal Limeno), Marvin Gonzalez (FAS), Jose Rafael Tobar (FAS), Victor Velasquez (FAS).

MIDFIELDERS
Dennis Alas (San Salvador), Santos Cabrera (Luis Angel Firpo), Hector Omar Mejia (Isidro Metapan), Victor Merino (Luis Angel Firpo), Erick Prado (Isidro Metapan), Jorge Rodriguez (Aguila), Ramon Sanchez (San Salvador), Deris Umanzor (Municipal Limeno), Isaac Zelaya (Luis Angel Firpo).

FORWARDS
Josue Galdamez (Municipal Limeno), Fredy Gonzalez (Aguila), Jose Martinez (Luis Angel Firpo).

COACH: Armando CONTRERAS

USA ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS
Tim Howard (Man. Utd./ENG), Kasey Keller (Tottenham/ENG), Jonny Walker (MetroStars).

DEFENDERS
Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham/ENG), Bobby Convey (Reading/ENG), Cory Gibbs (Dallas Burn), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege/BEL), Eddie Pope (MetroStars), Tony Sanneh (Columbus Crew).

MIDFIELDERS
DaMarcus Beasley (PSV/NET), Landon Donovan, (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Gaven (MetroStars), Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Lewis (Preston North End/ENG), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Clint Mathis (Hannover 96/GER), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards).

FORWARDS
Conor Casey (Mainz/GER), Eddie Johnson (Dallas Burn), Brian McBride (Fulham/ENG), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards).