Unbeknown to many, El Salvador coach Juan Paredes was present at the National Sports Centre on Sunday to witness Bermuda?s 13-0 mauling of Montserrat.

Inconspicuous among the local following seated in the grandstand, Paredes was on hand to personally assess the Island?s national team.

And after watching the home side run their Caribbean opponents ragged, the South American coach described Bermuda ?as a very tactical team?.

?Bermuda are in better shape and they have better ball control and play very tactical football. Today (Sunday) they did everything better than Montserrat and right now we know Bermuda is a very difficult opponent,? noted Paredes.

Though impressed by Bermuda?s overall performance, Paredes singled out hat-trick hero John Barry Nusum, ?keeper Troy Hall, who had a quite day between the posts, and midfielders Ottis Steede and Meshach Wade for special mention.

Attributing Montserrat?s demise to their lack of international exposure, the El Salvadorian said Bermuda?s margin of victory could have been even greater had it not been for a number of missed chances.

?I think they (Bermuda) could have scored more goals against a Montserrat team that is still learning how to play,? added Paredes. ?That was the difference between the two teams.

?Bermuda played very differently from the last time we saw them play about 10 or 13 years ago. But everything is very different now, this is a better Bermuda team with better players who know what to do.?

Barring a catastrophe in Montserrat in the second leg, it is almost certain Paredes will have another look at Bermuda before the next round in June.

But first El Salvador will continue their World Cup qualifying preparations with a series of warm-up fixtures against Honduras, Paraguay, Colombia and Mexico.

?We need to play these matches in order to get into good shape. We are getting better and this is another phase,? said Paredes.

?Our older players have moved on and so now we have new plans. Our players are now younger and they are fast, intelligent and very healthy.?