Stanford, Calif. coach hinted at answers without ever saying specifically why Donovan was among the final seven cuts.
“As a coach, you have to make a decision based on what you want to execute in Brazil, what you want to see, how do you want to build those components into the entire group. roster includes just five players who have played in a World Cup Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard, Jozy Altidore and DeMarcus Beasley and seven players 24 or younger.
Donovan has five World Cup goals, Cheap Jerseys free shipping including a stoppage time score against Algeria four years ago in South Africa that advanced the Americans to the second round.
“We all have an incredible amount of respect and appreciation and admiration for everything that Landon has done for this team and for soccer in this country,” Bradley said. “To see him walk out the door yesterday, to see six other guys walk out the door yesterday, is not easy.”
Klinsmann said Donovan took the decision Thursday “with an amazing composure.”
“Obviously, big disappointment. That is expected, and he said that, he doesn’t kind of understand it,” Klinsmann said. “He thinks he should have been in the 23.”
Donovan was scheduled to discuss the decision Saturday after training with the Galaxy.
Klinsmann said he hopes Donovan remains available in the future: The Americans have the CONCACAF Gold Cup next year and the Copa America in 2016, when qualifying for the next World Cup also starts. Donovan also could return for the World Cup if there is an injury to one of the players selected for the roster.
“The vision is, absolutely, that Landon continues his national team career,” Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann, who was hired in July 2011, won a World Cup with West Germany and European championship with Germany. Soccer Federation announced Klinsmann’s contract had been extended through 2018.
He maintained the new deal didn’t make him think more toward the future when making his picks.
“This is based on today. This is based on what hopefully goes well the next seven, eight weeks, so that had nothing to do with my contract or with the perspective that those young players have for the longer run,” he said.
His squad includes 18 year old winger Julian Green, who made his national team debut last month and has just six minutes of first team experience with Bayern Munich; 21 year old central defender Anthony Brooks, who has three international appearances; and 20 year old right back DeAndre Yedlin, whose only national team appearances were as a second half substitute this year.
“Julian Green is a good example of that. I don’t expect Julian Green to see a lot of minutes, if any minutes, in this World Cup, however, just by being in that environment will bode well for him in the next cycle.”.
