Dropping America
The AMERICAN Legend Landon Donovan
Millions of soccer fans around the world, including myself, were shocked and outraged upon hearing the exclusion of USMNT great Landon Donovan from Jurgen Klinsmann’s final roster for the World Cup this summer in Brazil. The shock lasted for about a minute before the sadness hit. The sadness being that the chances of seeing Landon play for the USMNT again were over. The opportunity to play in four World Cups which only a handful have done was over. The thought of another player wearing the number 10 other than Donovan was unimaginable.
What Klinsmann has failed to recognize is that Landon Donovan IS America. Over the past decade and a half, the US has had very little to be proud of amongst the rest of the world when it comes to international football. An upset of Portugal in the 2002 World Cup, the defeat of the world’s number one team Spain, in the 2009 Confederations Cup, and finally winning the group which included favorites England in the 2010 World Cup were probably the brightest moments for the US national team in the past 12 years. Landon Donovan was involved heavily in all three events. His ability to lead teams with his play has always been one of his strengths.
Individually, Donovan was not only the most experienced player of the provisional 30 man roster, but he also holds the record for most goals and assists for the US national team. Of course all of that is in the past, but does that mean Donovan has nothing more to give? Just a few days after being cut, Donovan went ahead and added another record to his name by becoming the top goal scorer in MLS history. He is the epitome of what hard work and passion can lead to in one of the most grueling and difficult sports.
Although I must say I have been a supporter of the Klinsmann era so far. He does show great commitment to the team and brings hope for the future. I expect great things from players like Brooks, Yedlin, and especially Mr. Julian Green in the future, but I believe their time is coming while Donovan’s time is coming to a close. He has sacrificed everything to promote soccer in the US as well as trying effortlessly to bring the national team to new heights. Let’s not allow a short sabbatical to stain the legacy and career of probably the greatest American to ever touch a soccer ball, huh Jurgen?
Growing up as a US soccer fan has definitely been tough. I have heard all the jokes, from Ghana ending the 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, to Dos Santos carving up the defense and chipping Tim Howard, and even the poor form of Americans playing abroad. Even after hearing all of this over and over again, I have always had the same response, “We have Donovan though.” Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to use that response this summer.
