LANDON DONOVAN, THE United States’ all-time leading scorer, has been left out of their 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup.
Donovan, with 57 international goals, was among 30 taken into Jurgen Klinsmann’s training camp but didn’t make the final cut for what would have been a fourth World Cup.
The 32-year-old had insisted he wasn’t a lock to make the squad for the finals in Brazil.
He didn’t figure prominently in the qualifying campaign, playing in just three of 10 matches in the final round after taking a nearly four-month sabbatical from the game.
But once the veteran — the face of football in the United States — was included in the 30-man preliminary squad many fans were certain he’d be going to Brazil.
Klinsmann, who helped Germany win the 1990 World Cup as a player and coached Germany to the 2006 semi-finals, said it was one of the toughest coaching decisions of his career.
“To tell a player like him, with everything he’s done and what he represents, to tell him ‘you’re not part of those 23 right now …’” Klinsmann said. “I just see some other players slightly ahead of him.
“His disappointment is huge,” Klinsmann added. “He took it very professional because he is an outstanding professional player,” he added.
“But I had to make decisions as of today … I just think the other guys right now are a little ahead of him.”
Klinsmann takes a relatively inexperienced squad for a World Cup campaign that sees the United States drawn in Group G along with Ghana, who reached the quarter-finals in the 2010 edition, Euro 2012 semi-finalists Portugal and one of the favorites for the trophy Germany.
They will kick off their campaign on 16 June against Ghana.
USA World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).
Well looking at the squad there I would have definitely brought him ahead of Jozy Altidore, that chap is allergic to goalscoring!
That was my first thought too – Altidore makes Emile Heskey look like Marco Van Basten!
Yeah remember watching the Chelsea game which Sundeland did win, but Altidore was through on goal with a great chance and Martin Atkinson said ” it’s Altidore now who’s pretty shy in front of goal ” I nearly fell of the chair laughing
Changing the headline to match my comment makes me look a bit dumb!
I would of brought Donovan experienced player ,has scored important goals at World Cup before ..would of bein useful coming off the bench when game ain’t goin your way !!
Has Jurgen been at the schnapps?crazy decision
Altidore is the top scorer for them in qualification, and usually steps up internationally,where as donovan has lost a step or 3 this season
Altidore wouldn’t score in a brothel with a fistful of fivers!
Feel sorry for landout donocar.