World Cup 2014: Donovan dropped from US squad
Landon Donovan, all-time top scorer for the USA, will not be going to the 2014 World Cup after Jurgen Klinsmann left him out of his final 23-man squad.
Donovan has 57 goals in 156 appearances for his country and, age 32, was looking forward to his fourth World Cup finals.
The Californian has scored two memorable goals for the US at World Cups, a header to knock out CONCACAF rivals Mexico in the round of 16 in Korea in 2002 and a last-gasp winner against Algeria in 2010 which sent the USA into the second round as group winners above England.
If Klinsmann was wanting to be bold in his choices, he could hardly have dropped a bigger name, and with a 'group of death' awaiting in Ghana, Portugal and Germany in Group G, we will see if fortune really favours the brave.
USA final squad:
Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders).
Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Toronto), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Ten of the 23 selected are from Major League Soccer, up from four in 2010 and there are six survivors from the squad taken to South Africa - Howard, Guzan, Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore and Beasley.
Upcoming games:
USA v Azerbaijan 27th May San Francisco, CA Friendly
USA v Turkey 1st June Harrison, NJ Friendly
USA v Nigeria 7th June Jacksonville, FL Friendly
World Cup 1st Rd
USA v Ghana 16th June Natal
USA v Portugal 22nd June Manaus
USA v Germany 26th June Recife
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile