also slated for Gillette Stadium -- on Saturday, the United States will look to clinch the group title by gaining no less than a draw. The point would earn a chance to face the third place finisher from Group A or C at the quarterfinal stage.
Considering the USA has yet to lose a contest in the Gold Cup group stages and have drawn only once (20-0-1 all time, with 14 shutouts in 21 games), history suggests that this game should be mission accomplished before the first whistle blows.
Not so, says Donovan.
"These games aren't easy," Donovan said. "When we play El Salvador, it's their World Cup final. If we slack off a little bit, it can be hard."
Hard or not, Donovan wants to vanquish El Salvador and enter the quarterfinal stages unblemished.
"I don't want to tie El Salvador," Donovan said. "I want to beat El Salvador."
Bradley believes that a loss is unfathomable at this juncture with the group title within grasp.
"Our goal is clearly to win our group," Bradley said. "In order to win our group, we need to have a tie."
Earning the points will be tricky against an El Salvador team that has shown well at points during its first two matches.
Given the condensed nature of the third-placed finishers, El Salvador cannot be assured of going through without gaining at least a point from the contest.
That leaves Bradley perplexed as to whether or not El Salvador will attempt to close down the game against his team, as Guatemala did in its opener, or choose to attack in search of a victory.
"I'm not sure what their approach will be," Bradley said. "They may think a tie is enough to qualify, or they think they may need a win."
Uncertainty also presents itself in Bradley's lineup choices for the match. The United States fielded completely different lineups for the first two contests. With a place in the quarterfinals assured, the question becomes how Bradley will arrange his personnel heading into the knockout stages.
"There are lots of factors that go into it," Donovan said. "There are yellow cards and fitness concerns. Now Pablo [Mastroeni] is here as well [after serving a two-match suspension from his ejection at the World Cup]. It shouldn't affect us."
The team has to deal with one injury concern as Eddie Johnson left Saturday's victory against Trinidad and Tobago with a right knee injury.
Johnson was scheduled to train on Monday with the rest of the United States squad and Bradley hoped that the injury would prove no hurdle to Johnson's continued involvement in the tournament.
"The hope is that it is very minor," Bradley said. "He hurt his right knee. In non-medical terms, I'd call it a mild strain."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
