Klinsmann, Brazil Have Proven Why Landon Donovan Was Left Off The World Cup Roster

There was a lot of speculation as to why Jurgen Klinsmann left national hero Landon Donovan off the 2014 World Cup 23-man roster. Most people speculated that it had to be because of they assumed to be a rather dysfunctional relationship. After all, Jurgen has been public with his opinion that he just doesn’t understand why a player would take the sabbatical that Landon took in 2012 right as the United States began their qualifying run for this World Cup.

But I always wondered that, if this was the case, why even have him play in crucial qualifiers in 2013? Why even invite him as part of the 30-man camp roster? After watching the United States advance through the group stage and becoming more familiar with the mantra of this squad, there is one word that comes to mind…

Fitness.

Fitness was the tool Jurgen planned to use to his advantage to get results in the group stage and it’s a point that can’t be overstated. Not only was this a team facing a Group of Death scenario, it was a team that had to travel 9,000 miles including a taxing trip to the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. Fitness was not just a wish, it was a necessity in ways not even normal for the always-demanding one-month World Cup tournament.

I honestly believe Landon Donovan was brought into the 30-man camp to test his fitness both mentally and physically. After watching 3 games that called upon young, athletic, fast, and a roster capable of playing long stretches without possession, it all makes sense now.

Even through his substitutes such as DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks, Jurgen has kept his word to play aggressive and to introduce speed and athleticism across the field. Standout 2-way players like Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson, DeMarcus Beasley, and Alejandro Bedoya show us what is expected of this national side and it isn’t a team who can afford to have players in the midfield that can’t go 100% over the course of a game.

That brings me to what Landon himself said during camp to ESPN:

I can’t train 12 straight days in a row and have 12 great days in a row. Physically it is not possible. My body breaks down, I’m getting older. – Landon Donovan

Through these 3 games, does this sound like a player the Americans can afford to have had on the field? Through all the challenges of travel, the competition, and playing in the Amazon we needed more than that. If this World Cup was in a small European nation I believe the roster would look different and include Donovan. And to be clear, this is nothing to take away from what Landon has meant and continues to mean for US Soccer and MLS. I am and continue to be a huge Landon fan.

But I get it now – to me it’s obvious what Jurgen’s plan was for the team and not just its individuals. His personnel decisions have proven to be brilliant and although I would have rather seen a Diskerud in place of Brad Davis against Germany, you really can’t complain anymore.

We are through to the last 16 because….well…I’ll let Michael Bradley’s quote from before the World Cup (during ESPN’s 30 for 30 feature) take it from here…

Teams that are ready to suffer are going to do well. And we want to be the team that can suffer the most. – Michael Bradley

Bring it Belgium. Our boys will be fit and ready.

Ready to suffer.