The U.S. head coach feels his team cannot afford to play cautiously June 29 in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in El Salvador. SOCCER AMERICA: Is a tie sufficient for the U.S.? STEVE SAMPSON: I think it’s imperative for us to go for three points. Our players are now fit enough to create opportunities and score goals. This doesn’t mean we don’t have to defend and defend well, but it’s not in our best interests to have a conservative approach. SA: What problems does El Salvador present? SS: Mauricio Cienfuegos is the one that must be contained. As Cienfuegos goes, so goes El Salvador. If we allow him to face goal and be playmaker, he’ll be very dangerous. Obviously, the crowd will be a tremendous factor before, during and after the game. SA: Might the crowd affect its own players as well as the U.S. team? SS: They are under pressure, no question. They’ve lost the last three games in a row: Mexico, Ecuador and Jamaica. If we can get behind them early and put the ball in the net, it will take the crowd out of the game. SA: In losing to Mexico 1-0, El Salvador generated little offense and Raul Diaz Arce seldom saw the ball. SS: Diaz Arce had a very quiet game against Mexico, but he was injured, not at 100 percent. His lack of mobility really impacted El Salvador’s attack. SA: If he is fully healthy to play against the U.S., will that change your defensive tactics? SS: We just have to do a very good job in transition of getting numbers back. Our players are most comfortable in the 4-4-2, and that’s what we’ll play. SA: Will you assign a man-marker to him? SS: No. I don’t foresee us making a lot of changes; we want our opponents to adjust to us. by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney