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Landon Donovan sendoff: bittersweet win not a bad way to bow out

By on December 5, 2014

There are many stories of the day
Landon Donovan was cut from Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-man World Cup 2014 roster. For USMNT fans it has become almost a “where were you when” moment. When the announcement was made, the small group of autograph hunters outside Stanford Stadium, where the US were holding their pre-World Cup preparations, had already seen most of the other cut players leave. Not Donovan, though. By the time they were scratching their heads, Donovan may well have been home in Los Angeles, a short hour-and-a-half flight from the Bay Area. Nobody had known what had happened but within an instant the US’ World Cup had suddenly changed. How it did, though may be cliche to say, we’ll never know.

But imagine a scenario in which Donovan was picked and had a successful World Cup? Whatever the situation it puts the national team in, one thing is clear – we wouldn’t be where we were today, preparing for the MLS Cup final and moreover, the last game of Donovan’s career. Donovan has clearly stated he plays best, or even well at all, when he is happy off the pitch; being cut from the roster could hardly have given him reason for cheer. No matter when he would have decided to retire otherwise, Donovan, only thirty-two, could hardly have decided to on the sour note he did.

But what that sour note must have given him was reason for resent. Reason to prove everybody, and Klinsmann, wrong. That he did. In just his first match back, he broke the Major League Soccer scoring record, and also holds the assists title. Now, his presence has given the LA Galaxy the push to make it all the way to the MLS Cup Final Sunday, what will be Donovan’s last game.

It is his last game quite likely because of Klinsmann’s decision. But what that decision also gave Donovan is an even bigger reason to give it his all this Sunday and capitalize on the chance to go out on as high a note as ever with an MLS Cup trophy in tow. Wins are that much sweeter after losses. Donovan has a chance for redemption, however bittersweet.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.