The El Salvador coach hopes his team, which has struggled badly in recent years, earns some respect and develop a solid nucleus for World Cup qualifying, which starts next year. He also hopes some players use to the Gold Cup to get seen and sign with clubs abroad.
El Salvador's Gold Cup team consists entirely of players from Salvadoran clubs, including former MLS players Ronald Cerritos and Eliseo Quintanilla. Californian Carlos Menjivar, who plays for FAS, should play a key role as holding midfielder.
Success at the Gold Cup would reserve the decline of Salvadoran soccer. It didn't qualify for the final round of 2006 World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF zone and went winless in 2005 and 2006, ending its 29-month drought with a 1-0 win over a Denmark team composed solely of players from the domestic league in January.
GOLD CUP RECORD:
Appearances: 4
Record: 3 wins, 7 losses, 1 ties
EL SALVADOR ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Juan Jose Gomez (Luis Angel Firpo), Miguel Angel Montes (Chalatenango), Dagoberto Portillo (Alianza);
Defenders: Luis Alonzo Anaya (Aguila), Ramiro Ernesto Carballo (Alianza), Alexander Escobar (Isidro Metapan), Leonel Guevara (Vista Hermosa), Jose Mardoqueo Henriquez (FAS), Alfredo Alberto Pacheco (FAS), Manuel Alejandro Salazar (Luis Angel Firpo), Jose Rolando Torres (Aguila);
Midfielders: Dennis Jonathan Alas (San Salvador), Francisco Jovel Alvarez (Alianza), Jose Orlando Martinez (Alianza), Vicente Januario Melgar (Chalatenango), Carlos Alberto Menjivar (FAS), Victor Hugo Merino (Luis Angel Firpo), Eliseo Quintanilla (San Salvador), Ramon Alfredo Sanchez (San Salvador);
Forwards: Juan Alexander Campos (Aguila), Ronald Cerritos (San Salvador), Cesar Alexander Larios (FAS), Julio Enrique Martinez (Isidro Metapan).
Coach: Carlos DE LOS COBOS (Mexico).
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