“Dropping Donovan was a tough decision ” – Jurgen Klinsmann[Video]

U.S. national team manager, Jurgen Klinsmann has described the exclusion of Landon Donovan from his 23 man squad for Brazil 2014 World Cup as the toughest decision in his coaching career.

Jurgen Klinsmann defied all odds and named Bayern Munich’s 18 years old German born American, Julien Green ahead of London Donovan to the surprise of many fans.

Donovan has appeared in more World Cup matches than any other player and is currently second on the list of all-time appearances for the United States. He has played 12 World Cup matches for the USA.

This decision seems to have raised several eyebrows with many pundits questioning  the rationale behind this seemingly weird act by Klinsmann.

Explaining the rationale behind his decision, Jurgen Klinsmann disclosed that ”it was one of the toughest decision in my coaching career to tell a player like him with everything he has done and what he represents to tell him you are not part of the final 23 and currently the other guys are ahead of him and that he understands it.”

He subsequently lauded the manner in which Donovan accepted the news and tagged him as an outstanding professional. “He took it the best way possible, his disappointment is huge but I totally understand that, he took it very professional because he is an outstanding professional player”.

The United States of America will play old nemesis the Black Stars of Ghana on the 17^th of June at the Estadio das Dunas [Natal] before they play both Germany and Portugal respectively.

The United States are currently in  camp preparing for the World Cup in Stanford, Calif.  Before traveling to Brazil, the Americans will play Azerbaijan on May 27 in San Francisco, Turkey on June 1, in Harrison, N.J., and Nigeria on June 7 in Jacksonville

U.S.A final 23 man squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/citifmonline.com/Ghana