The World Cup final rosters for 2014 in Brazil are being set by teams and in the United States there was some drama, as decorated star Landon Donovan was one of seven cuts from Jurgen Klinsmann, leaving him off the roster for what would have been his fourth World Cup and now the US soccer teams continues on with young players like Julian Green.
The roster was cut down to 23 players from 30 ahead of the final date for Brazil and now that gives more time for the team to prepare for the tournament. According to ESPN.com, Michael Parkhurst, Brad Evans, Clarence Goodson, Joe Corona and Maurice Edu as well as forward Terrence Boyd along with Donovan were the players to get cut. Donovan could make it back as an injury replacement, but that is not likely.
Klinsmann said the decision was the hardest of his career, but he opted to put the best team out there and he also took young players like Green, as they are the future of US soccer. This year the team likely will not do much, as the group of death is the one they are in and it would be a miracle if the team makes it out of the group stages with Ghana, Portugal and Germany as their opponents.
Donovan has had an up and down relationship with Klinsmann and clearly now things are down between the two and it comes after Donovan was away from soccer for the 2012 season. Donovan had to earn his spot on the team and he played well in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and in World Cup qualifying and now he is off the roster. This came after he did not start against Mexico in an exhibition match after a knee injury and now he is gone after being the most decorated US men's soccer player.
"I was looking forward to playing in Brazil and, as you can imagine, I am very disappointed with today's decision," Donovan wrote.
Check here for more on the US rosters and links to the rest of team rosters.
