How does it feel to be the country that took Chris Wondolowski to a World Cup over Landon Donovan?
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That was the harsh reality felt by American soccer fans everywhere when Jurgen Klinsmann omitted Donovan from his 23-man roster on Thursday. For the first time since 1998, the U.S. men's national team will be at a World Cup without their most storied player.
The question is: How could Klinsmann take the likes of Wondolowski and Brad Davis to the World Cup instead of a player who has more World Cup goals (5) than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic combined (3)?
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The answer is simple: Because he felt like it.
Those trying to justify Donovan's omission will bang the drum, habitually repeating the same talking points that could easily be applied to any of the other players on Klinsmann's roster. For some, the former U.S. captain wasn't in form, young or dedicated enough to the national team to earn a ticket to Brazil.
First, the form, which is fallacy, argument. There's no debating Donovan's dip in form. He's failed to score a competitive league goal since October 6, 2013 and remains on 134 career goals in MLS, one shy of breaking Jeff Cunningham's record. Clearly, taking a player who's lost his finishing touch to the World Cup is a liability.
Then, why isn't Jozy Altidore being held to the same standard?
In 31 Premier League appearances this past season, the Sunderland point-man scored one goal—one measly goal. Altidore can point to his club's lack of quality, failing to provide him the service required to maintain his form. That, however, didn't stop Connor Wickham from banging home five goals in his nine appearances toward the end of the season, saving Sunderland from relegation.
So if you can't justify Donovan's omission with form, how about dedication?
The self-imposed sabbatical he took in 2013 put his commitment to U.S. soccer in question. That's right, people actually questioned the commitment of a man with 156 caps (second most in U.S. soccer history) and the most international goals (57) and World Cup matches (12) in this nation's history.
Clearly, Timothy Chandler has shown the same dedication to the red, white and blue. At least enough to earn a trip to Brazil. After all, the 24-year-old turned down a chance to represent the national team in the 2011 Gold Cup and two World Cup qualifiers in 2013. With dedication like that, there's no denying he's prepared to represent the U.S. soccer at a higher level than Donovan.
Now, to be fair, the two aforementioned players are only 24 years of age. Their inclusion can easily be chalked up to Klinsmann's youth movement as he prepares to elevate U.S. soccer at the 2018 World Cup, but Wondolowski is 31 and Brad Davis is 32. They have zero World Cup experience, and Wondolowski has proven he can only score against the likes of Guatemala, Belize and Cuba.
How do either serve the youth movement? How are either more valuable than Landon Donovan?
Again, life isn't fair and soccer isn't fair. A WC roster isn't about form, merit or history. It's simply a coach's preference.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) May 22, 2014
The truth is, no matter how you try to spin it, there is absolutely no justification for omitting the greatest American soccer player that has ever lived. Donovan was left behind because Klinsmann wanted to leave him behind. His age, form and dedication have no bearing in this argument.
#OneNationOneTeam. One quick exit with that 23. #USMNT
— Eduardo Mendez (@Mendez_FC) May 22, 2014
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