By Will Kuhns in San Salvador
When the U.S. men's national team faces El Salvador here Saturday night, it may not encounter quite the intimidating atmosphere that it has seen at other World Cup qualifying matches away from home.
The prevailing opinion in San Salvador is that pessimistic apathy will keep many fans in their houses to watch the game on television, expecting a loss.
''This is the worst the national team has ever been,'' said Jose Gilberto Alfaro, a local taxi driver. Several others expressed similar negativity. The country's numerous soccer fans are reeling from an embarrassing 3-0 loss at home against Jamaica on Sept. 8, four days after a 2-0 defeat in the United States.
Rodrigo Arias, a journalist at El Grafico, the city's new sports daily, said he would be shocked to see a crowd of 20,000 while his colleague at La Prensa, Marcelo Betancourt, predicted a crowd of about 5,000 in the bright yellow and red Cuscatlan Stadium, which can hold almost 40,000.
It seems that a coaching change — from Juan Ramon Paredes to Armando Contreras Palma — has not revitalized the public's hopes for advancement to the next round. El Salvador is last in the four-team group with three points. Contreras Palma said the team's attitude is ''very positive,'' after tinkering with his lineup during a scrimmage against El Salvador's Under-20 team Wednesday.
''We know the last few results have not been good,'' said Ronald Cerritos, who has played well for Salvadoran club Alianza since being cut by D.C. United last month. ''Whenever the national team plays, people come. We don't expect a full stadium, but it might be half, and we will play for those people.''