After the USMNT escaped El Salvador with a 0-0 draw to begin World Cup qualifying, various Twitter accounts with profile pictures of teenaged USMNT stars chalked it off as unacceptable.
Landon Donovan labelled that thinking as "crazy."
“No matter how many times we go through this process, there are always people who can’t really understand how difficult it is,” said the Young American. “It doesn’t matter what you’re ranked. It doesn’t matter how talented your players are on paper. It’s a hard place to play.”
Now it’s Mexico’s turn to enter the belly of the beast with kickoff set for 8:05 p.m. local time Wednesday at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, and they’ll be taking to the pitch without much sleep.
Mexico touched down Tuesday before a brief trip to the Cuscatlán to get a taste of the stadium. They then returned to their hotel for sleep, where they were given a taste of the atmosphere they’ll soon encounter.
We’ve all seen videos of supporters trying to keep opposition players up with drums and fireworks, but this was an absolute rager that started Tuesday night and carried deep into the early hours of Wednesday.
Ha pasado más de una hora y los aficionados salvadoreños siguen con la serenata a @miseleccionmx
— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) October 13, 2021
"Vamoooos, vamoooos Selectaaaa, que esta nocheeeee… ¡tenemos que ganar"
así cantan los salvadoreños en su serenata a @miseleccionmx@jp__lluis #MiSalvadorEs | #CaminoACatar pic.twitter.com/y1OXKVgDnu
— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) October 13, 2021
Mexico is leading the Ocho with 11 points from five games. This is a massive match for El Salvador as La Selecta is rooted to sixth with five points.
The Ocho as we near the halfway point of qualifying.
