MIAMI.- When it comes to the El Salvador National Team, expectations are always high. 

That is only natural for a team that has qualified for two FIFA World Cups and 11 Concacaf Gold Cups, including the last seven editions of the Gold Cup with three quarterfinal appearances.

El Salvador’s 2019 Gold Cup ended when they barely missed out on the knockout round with a defeat in their final group stage match to Honduras, but they certainly showed in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying and in the Gold Cup that their trademark Cuscatleco quality is very much intact.

Head Coach Carlos de los Cobos guided El Salvador to a 3W-0D-1L record in CNLQ with just two goals conceded, which included an excellent 2-0 home win over 2019 Gold Cup semifinalists Jamaica.

One of the leaders was MF Oscar Ceren, who scored two goals and will once again be counted on when El Salvador kick off Group B action against Saint Lucia on September 7.

Joining El Salvador and Saint Lucia in the group are the Dominican Republic and Montserrat, meaning El Salvador are the lone team among the four that have ever qualified for a Gold Cup.

El Salvador’s international experience will be pivotal over the course of the eight matches, especially when they are playing in front of their home fans at the always-boisterous Estadio Cuscatleco in San Salvador.

With a new cycle underway, El Salvador are armed with a talented squad that can meet the expectations of earning promotion to League A.