Donovan left out
May 23, 2014Jürgen Klinsmann has decided to leave USA soccer legend Landon Donovan at home for the World Cup. Nine days before the final deadline for squad submission, the coach revealed his 23-man squad and chose to omit Donovan.
The 32-year-old LA Galaxy striker has played in three World Cups already and holds the American record for most goals scored (57) as well as most World Cup goals (5) for the US. Instead of Donovan, Klinsmann has opted for 18-year-old Bayern Munich striker Julian Green.
The American side will first face Ghana on June 17 followed by Portugal six days later. Their final group-stage game will be against Germany on June 26.
Other members of the squad include 1. FC Nürnberg's Timothy Chandler, Fabian Johnson - who will be moving from Hoffenheim to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer - as well as Hertha Berlin's John Anthony Brooks. Former Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, who is currently under contract at Turkish club Besiktas Istanbul, has also been picked and will play in his first World Cup.
US 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 BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders); Midfielders: Kyle Beckermann (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City); Attackers: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
jh/hc (sid, dpa)