First off, how do fans in El Salvador feel about this recent 'strike' (can I call it that?) by members of the national team? Which side has the popular support - the players or the governing body?
The El Salvador Football Federation (FESFUT) has never had popular support. The fans have the unanimous verdict that our football executives are the ones to blame for our perennial misfortunes, but in this particular case, the fans are very disappointed with the players. Some radical fans resented that the players demanded more money, but the action that really hurt the players name was, first, that they called off the training sessions (just days ahead of key matches against Mexico and Canada), and second, the way they (tried to) justify themselves with a childish attitude during media interviews. The players who directed the "strike" are now called "divas" and they have been ridiculed on social media.
The squad named for the matches against Canada and Mexico has far less experience than the one at the Gold Cup, for example. How do fans and journalists in El Salvador feel about the team's chances in the next two games, with this current list of call-ups?
It's difficult to be optimistic about it. Most fans and journalists predict a heavy loss in Mexico and pray that our squad could get better for Tuesday. The new players are young and have no experience, mostly on defense. No one would blame them for a big loss, but if it happens, the fans' reactions won't be pretty. There's a big organized fan club who are advising the fans to "boycott" the stadium for the match against Canada. The organization is called "La Barra Azul" (you can find their statements on their Facebook page), and they ask the fans not to give more money to FESFUT.
Which players left off the squad will El Salvador miss most?
To me, El Salvador's best player is Alexander Larin. He's currently used as a left fullback, but he's also a great attacking midfielder with a accurate left shot. He'll be missed, as well as our 2 central defenders, Milton Molina and Alex Mendoza. On popular perception, Arturo Alvarez, Richard Menjivar and Darwin Ceren could be more important. Not to me. I think Alvarez is in the twighlight of his career and he's not in good shape. Menjivar and Ceren are good, but not irreplaceable.
How do you expect this dispute between the players and the governing body to play out? Will the full squad be back for the next round of matches?
Yes, the problems are not solved. The executives don't accept the blame and they are trying to punish the players as hard as possible. The future is uncertain and it could get worse.
Finally, there's the obvious regional and cultural rivalries with Mexico and Honduras, but does playing Canada hold any special connotation for fans in El Salvador? Or are we generally an afterthought?
There's no rivalry, but El Salvador fans remember some great matches against Canada. There's our loss in 1981, but the Youtube generation has no footage of that game, and it's only remembered as a bad start for a glorious tournament. Our two great victories in the 90's (the 2-3 in Vancouver 1992 and the 4-1 in San Salvador in 1997) are still very popular, as are the heroes of those games (Oscar Ulloa and William Renderos Iraheta). Of course, we also remember with pain our key losses in the 1993 final round. Most the fans from those years still remember names as Bob Lenarduzzi, Alex Bunbury and Paul Peschisolido.
But, history aside, people really don't have an idea about the Canada team that will play next Tuesday in the Estadio Cuscatlán. Most journalists still have the perception that Canadian players are stronger and quicker, and that El Salvador are not favorites, but it's won't be impossible to get a draw or a win. Right now there's too much uncertainty about Canada, and the media only talks about Mexico.