Landon Donovan disagrees with Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to leave him out of the United States’ World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old is the Stars and Stripes’ all-time record goalscorer with 57 strikes in 154 appearances for his country, but has been controversially overlooked for the tournament in Brazil.
Landon Donovan disagrees with Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to leave him out of the United States’ World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old is the Stars and Stripes’ all-time record goalscorer with 57 strikes in 154 appearances for his country, but has been controversially overlooked for the tournament in Brazil.
German tactician Klinsmann explained the move by saying he didn’t feel Donovan was at the required physical level. However, the LA Galaxy forward says this isn’t the case and that he has worked as hard as anyone during recent weeks.
“I can’t agree with his quotes,” Donavan told reporters. “I think I have worked well in training with the others. I think I’ve been one of the best and this annoys me a little bit.
“If I felt that I didn’t deserve to be included, I would be able to live with and accept the decision, but that isn’t the case.
“If you need to judge it by events on the pitch, I think I don’t just deserve to be called-up, I think I deserve to go to the World Cup. Not just for what I have done in the past, but because of how I worked during the last two weeks.
“I am disappointed and upset. I am human and I want to play in the World Cup, but I am calm and I respect the decision.
“I believe I deserved to be included, this is a bitter pill to swallow.”