National Team: Landon Donovan to captain the team on Friday in farewell
By Gavin Ewbank
Oct 4, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan (10) moves the ball in front of Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley (4) during the second half at StubHub Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Toronto FC with a final score of 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan will captain the US Men’s National Team on Friday and play about 20-30 minutes, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann confirmed to the media on Tuesday.
Friday night’s game against Ecuador in Hartford will be the 157th and final appearance for the national team in Donovan’s historic US Soccer career, with the plan of retiring at the end of the current MLS season.
By not playing the entire match, Donovan should be in well enough shape to return to the Galaxy this weekend in time for it’s match at FC Dallas on Sunday, as LA continues it’s push against Seattle for the Supporters’ Shield with three matches remaining.
The match will be Donovan’s first cap since Klinsmann surprisingly left him off the World Cup squad in May. Donovan is the national team’s all-time leader in goals, with 57 goals, and assists, with 58.
* San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski was added to the roster for the USA’s friendly against Ecuador this Friday, US Soccer announced on Tuesday afternoon. Wondolowski, whose infamous miss against Belgium in the closing minutes of regular time in the Round of 16 match in this summer’s World Cup, will be making his first appearance with the national team since that game in Brazil.
The 31-year-old has nine goals in 15 matches for San Jose since returning from Brazil.
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Here is the full roster, which now stands at 22:
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders (7): John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)
Midfielders (6): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Julian Green (Hamburg), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Joe Gyau (Borussia Dortmund), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich)
O-Town’s 11 will have more coverage of the national team this week as they prepare for their friendly against Ecuador, as well as a friendly against Honduras next Tuesday in Boca Raton, Florida.