"ALAS, ALAS FOR EL SALVADOR"
(Two of their players are called "Alas" which could be amusing in the commentary...)
El Salvador have played the same number of matches as us this year i.e. one- a 2-0 loss to Estonia in LA on the same day we played Jamaica. So, they should be pretty rusty too.
From Sept. 2011 to Nov. 2011 they played only weak opposition: Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Surinam with 100% winning record.
FIFA ranking: 49
They have less players playing outside their own country than us- two from MLS in the States, one from Finland, two in Guatemala.
Star player is midfielder Arturo Alvarez who plays in Portugal's top flight for Pacos de Ferreira.
Manager Ruben Israel is a Uruguayan who has been a successful club coach in Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia and Chile.
The El Salvador Olympic side came close to qualifying for London, knocking out the USA and narrowly losing the CONCACAF semi to Honduras 2-3. Thirteen of the squad are 23 or under- so many also play in the Olympic side.
Position
Player (Age) Caps Goals
Club
GK
Dagoberto Portillo:
(age 32)
17
0
Luis Ángel Firpo/
GK
Benji Villalobos:
(age 23)
1
0
Águila/
DF
Alfredo Pacheco:
(age 29)
76
6
Isidro Metapán/
DF
Xavier García:
(age 21)
22
1
Luis Ángel Firpo/
DF
Víctor Turcios:
(age 24)
30
1
RoPS/
DF
Carlos Monteagudo:
(age 27)
15
1
Luis Ángel Firpo/
DF
Steve Purdy* :
(age 27)
5
1
Portland Timbers/
DF
Alexander Mendoza:
(age 21)
1
0
FAS/
DF
Milton Molina:
(age 23)
1
0
Isidro Metapán/
MF
Dennis Alas (captain):
(age 27)
72
3
Luis Ángel Firpo/
MF
Ramón Sánchez:
(age 29)
70
2
Isidro Metapán/
MF
Eliseo Quintanilla:
(age 29)
61
15
Municipal/
MF
Osael Romero:
(age 26)
61
13
Águila/
MF
Jaime Alas:
(age 22)
23
4
Luis Ángel Firpo/
MF
Edwin Sánchez:
(age 22)
14
2
FAS/
MF
Elder Figueroa:
(age 31)
1
0
Once Municipal/
MF
Arturo Alvarez:
(age 26)
20
1
Paços de Ferreira/
MF
Darwin Cerén:
(age 22)
0
0
Juventud Independiente/
MF
Isidro Gutiérrez:
(age 22)
0
0
Alianza/
FW
Ricardo Ulloa:
(age 21)
0
0
FAS/
FW
Léster Blanco:
(age 23)
19
5
Isidro Metapán/
FW
Rafael Burgos:
(age 23)
15
7
Petapa/
FW
Maikon Orellana** :
(age 18)
0
0
Real Salt Lake/
FW
Nelson Bonilla:
(age 21)
0
0
Alianza.
* May only take part in the Honduras match.
** May only take part in the New Zealand and Moldova matches.
El Salvador's last match in Feb. v Estonia: 20 mins highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MW90EeYd80
2.25 min highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8_Rnlida4k
Videos of star player Arturo Alvarez:
http://www.youtube.com/topic/Z2xjjeem5jI/arturo-alvarez
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
