U.S. forward Landon Donovan stretches prior to practice for the World Cup soccer tournament Thursday, May 22, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. Donovan was cut from the roster later Thursday for the World Cup. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (The Associated Press)
STANFORD, Calif. – U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann says he dropped Landon Donovan from the World Cup roster because other forwards in the player pool surpassed him in the months before the American team gathered for its pre-tournament training camp.
Speaking Friday at a news conference, a day after announcing the decision, Klinsmann said he thought his roster had enough experience to compete in a first-round group that includes Ghana, Portugal and Germany.
Klinsmann says Donovan took the decision "with an amazing composure" and that "he doesn't kind of understand it." He hopes the 32-year-old forward will continue his national team career.
Klinsmann also concedes young players such as Julian Green, Anthony Brooks and DeAndre Yedlin have a "learning curve ahead of them."
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