BOSTON — Landon Donovan will be surrounded by a relatively youthful roster for the United States’ exhibition game against Ecuador in Connecticut on Friday, when he is set to make his 157th and final international appearance.
The 32-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy forward, who is retiring at the end of Major League Soccer’s season, is the American leader with 57 goals and 58 assists. A veteran of three World Cups, Donovan was controversially cut by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann for this year’s tournament in Brazil.
“He comes in on Thursday and has a chance to really enjoy the atmosphere and the support of the fans,” Klinsmann said.
Several veterans with MLS games on Wednesday and Friday were omitted, including Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley, Seattle forward Clint Dempsey, and Kansas City defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi. Defender Fabian Johnson also was left off; he started for Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday after missing a game with an Achilles tendon injury.
“We left quite a few of the experienced players out because we want to give the younger players a chance to break in,” Klinsmann said. “Guys like Kyle Beckerman, DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Davis, Chris Wondolowski and others are not in this roster, not because they aren’t part of the national team moving forward, simply because we want to see the youngsters make their point.”
Klinsmann’s only selections 30 or older in addition to Donovan were goalkeepers Brad Guzan (30) and Nick Rimando (35). Klinsmann intends to revise his roster for the Oct. 14 exhibition against Honduras in Boca Raton, Fla.
“Maybe we let a few ones go after the Friday game back to Europe,” Klinsmann said, “so they have a whole week of preparation for the next game (and) bring in some MLS players to fill in the blanks.”
The U.S. team was scheduled to start training Monday at Harvard.
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR FRIDAY’S GAME AGAINST ECUADOR
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Greg Garza (Tijuana, Mexico), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Puebla, Mexico), Tim Ream (Bolton, England), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Tijuana, Mexico), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, Norway), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Julian Green (Hamburg, Germany), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt, Germany)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Joe Gyau (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich, Germany)
Landon Donovan to retire as most important player in U.S. soccer history >>
Photo via Rick Bowmer/Associated Press
