SAN SALVADOR

Like a “war zone without weapons” is how he described it.

El Salvador’s Estadio Cuscatlan is akin to an ancient coliseum, Canada’s Will Johnson told the Toronto Sun.

Like stadiums across this part of the world, the Salvadoran Football Association’s home venue undoubtedly will be hostile when Canada meets its Group A opposition on Tuesday.

Take it from Johnson, who still bears the scars left over from the last time Canada played a World Cup qualifier in the heart of Central America.

“It’s like ... going into old Greek history where you go into the cathedral — or whatever that thing is called — and everybody wants you to lose,” said Johnson, who scored in Canada’s 1-0 win over Honduras in Vancouver Friday night.

Cathedral. Coliseum. Whatever you want to call it. That’s the sentiment coming from the clad-in-blue, fenced-in crowd.

It’s the feeling players have.

“Everyone wants you to get killed,” said Johnson, a hint of hyperbole seeping through his words. “You’ve got to survive. You’ve got to survive and get out.”

LARSON: Canadian men exceed expectations, beat Honduras



LARSON: Canada's men's soccer team eager for fresh start

Surviving is one thing. Killing off an opponent’s World Cup hopes away from home is entirely different. Even the top teams in CONCACAF — the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica — struggle during this phase, dropping points on the road.

Drastic swings in playing conditions have something to do with it. The heat. The humidity.

From El Salvador - It's like "everyone wants you to get killed" in the coliseum https://t.co/N1qLuPZWAApic.twitter.com/5GzKsVlEzt — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) November 15, 2015

The facilities are drastically different from the pristine arenas players compete in around Europe and North America.

Players tense up and take fewer risks. They play on the back foot instead of the front. They let the game come to them until the pressure eventually rips them open.

“Hopefully we’ll continue to make improvements in that area,” Johnson said during a one-on-one conversation.

The evidence suggests they’ll at least be tougher to beat away from the friendly confines of BC Place.

Head coach Benito Floro’s defensive scheme stymied Honduras Friday night, while Canada’s wide players had acres of space to exploit the wings.

Better hold-up play from lone striker Cyle Larin might be the final ingredient that allows Canada to relieve the sustained pressure it could face from a Salvadoran side that’s in a must-not-lose situation.The Salvadorans were, unsurprisingly, blown out in Mexico Friday night, 3-0, in a match El Tri essentially strolled in.

There’s no question part of the explanation for that lopsided result comes down to El Salvador not having its best players, many of which are striking for better pay, facilities and benefits.

None of the 11 first-team Salvadoran players who started in a goalless draw with Canada at this summer’s Gold Cup are rostered for World Cup qualifying.

Essentially, El Salvador is fielding a bunch of little-known domestic players who are, at best, fringe national team players.

Friday night was their first game together. Tuesday will be their second.

“They could play whoever they want,” Johnson said. “They could have all the problems in the world. It’s still going to be tough for us to get a result.

“But the more bad things going on in the back room the better.”

Anything to survive the “coliseum.”

‘HAVE TO WIN’

Salvadoran bench boss Ramon Maradiaga knows the margin for error in this World Cup qualifying phase is slim.

The top-two finishers in four-team Group A will advance to CONCACAF’s final round of qualifying.

And after a tough — but completely expected — loss at the Azteca Friday night, Maradiaga was honest ahead of Tuesday’s match with Canada.

“I have the illusion to qualify with this group of players,” Maradiaga said, according to Salvadoran news outlet Proceso Digital. “Against Canada we have to get the three points and nurture hope.”

Maradiaga added that things will be different when Mexico travels to San Salvador on the penultimate Matchday next fall.

“We’ll try to remain hopeful against Canada,” Maradiaga said, according to ESPN Deportes. “Today many expected a loss, but we have much to rescue.”

They’ll be fighting for their World Cup lives on Tuesday night.

BALL KID BANTER

Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan didn’t hide from his in-game antics Friday night.

With Canada clinging to a 1-0 lead over Honduras late in the second half, Borjan had multiple, uh, shady conversations with a ball kid directly behind his goal.

Ball kids, of course, ensure play resumes as quickly as possible after the ball goes into touch.

Borjan, though, appeared to ask one ball kid — a good, honest Canadian kid — to stop doing his job.

The Canadian ‘keeper wanted to retrieve his own balls to waste more seconds prior to goal kicks, confusing the poor lad who just wanted to do his job.

Borjan admitted to the poor gamesmanship post-game, saying he had a hard time getting the home team’s ball kids to buy in.

The cheeky Canadian also wasted another 45 seconds near the end of the match when he appeared to fake a head injury.

But, hey, it’s not like opposing CONCACAF teams are innocent of similar shenanigans.

And it’s about time a Canadian player learned how to manipulate things.

BACK TO VANCOUVER

It looks like Vancouver could be the new home of the Canadian men’s national team.

With BMO Field under renovations, it appears Canada will also host Mexico in a March qualifier at BC Place.

Truth be told, hosting a match in Vancouver was a nice change of pace following years of Canada’s men calling Toronto home.

And the fact Vancouver packed the venue with more than 21,000 fans — a bigger crowd than in Toronto in recent years — can’t be overstated.

The TV numbers are the next indicator as to whether this Canadian men’s team will finally break into the mainstream. But having late games on the west coast won’t do much to help grow those figures, which peaked last World Cup cycle at around a quarter-million.

AND ANOTHER THING

My buddy Luke Wileman, the face of TSN soccer, referred back to the Toronto Sun’s World Cup qualifying coverage during Friday night’s TSN broadcast, bringing up the fact the Sun deemed it Floro’s “JUDGEMENT DAY.”

His colour analyst, former Canadian international Nick Dasovic, called it a bit premature despite just about everybody labeling it a must-win game.

Let’s be honest, Canada’s World Cup qualifying campaign would have fallen apart had it opened this round with a loss. And Floro would have been judged accordingly.

Instead, the Spanish bench boss will likely be given a reprieve because of that one victory.

Judgement Day, indeed.

Email: kurtis.larson@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @KurtLarSUN