US football star Landon Donovan dropped from World Cup squad
This morning, Juergen Klinsmann dropped a bombshell on the US football fraternity - he did not name their all-time top scorer Landon Donovan for their 23-man squad for next month's World Cup finals.
Having scored 56 goals in 156 appearance for the Americans, 32-year-old Donovan was considered by many a shoo-in by many when he was named in Klinsmann's 30-man provisional earlier this month.
Reuters reported that Klinsmann described dropping the man who has been the face of American football as being the "toughest decision of (his) coaching career"
Explaining the thinking behind his decision to drop Donovan: "I just see some other players slightly ahead of him. He’s been part of that final 30 roster in terms of the last 10 days and he did everything right, he was always positive, he took it in the best way possible.”
The former Germany striker had already made it clear that just because Donovan was included in the provisional squad, it in no way meant that he was an automatic selection for the final team.
What's more surprising? In place of the experienced Donovan is 18-year-old Julian Green, who plays in the lower German leagues with Bayern Munich's second team.
Reactions
While Donovan expressed his disappointment at being left out of the squad, his Facebook post reacting to the announcement was largely vanilla.
His fans however were less vanilla in expressing their feelings about his exclusion.
One fan highlighted his achievements for US football, possibly in the hope that the German might change his mind.
Others just paid tribute to the man who they are calling the "Captain America of American Football".
Here's a reminder as to why Donovan is held in such high regard by the Americans
Other players to not make the final squad are: Defenders Brad Evans, Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst, midfielders Joe Corona and Maurice Edu, and forward Terrence Boyd
USA Squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, DeAndre Yedlin
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi
Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski
Source: Reuters, FIFA, Facebook
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