USA legend Landon Donovan left out by Klinsmann

The biggest talking point of the United States team selection was the decision by Jurgen Klinsmann to leave out talisman and legend Landon Donovan.

Donovan has 156 caps and 57 goals for the US with arguably the most important of his goals coming against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup to secure top spot in a group that included England.

The LA Galaxy attacker is the US all-time top goal scorer and just 8 caps short of record appearance holder Cobi Jones however a possible decline in club form, where he partners Robbie Keane in the Galaxy attack, may have prompted 1990 World Cup winner Klinsmann to drop Donovan look for younger alternative.

That alternative could come in the shape of AZ striker Aron Johannsson. The US-born attacker was initially called up for Iceland in 2012 but did not play due to injury. Johannsson the opted to switch allegiance to his birth country and has been in Klinsmann’s selections since. The 23 year-old has hit the net 20 times in his first season in Holland. Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore has made the 23 despite only scoring one goal this season.

This World Cup also provides somewhat of a swansong for some of the older players in the squad who are yet to play in a World Cup. Home based Kyle Beckerman and Besiktas’ Jermaine Jones have made the 23-man squad, as well as veteran DaMarcus Beasley. 32-year-old Beasley is set to appear in his fourth World Cup, having played in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Another positive for Klinsmann and in particular the MLS is the number of home based players that have made the squad. No fewer than ten players have been selected for the squad from the national league. The MLS is of course now home to former League of Ireland referee Alan Kelly, Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane and up until last season, former St. Pat’s striker Ryan Guy was lining out for the New England Revolution.

USA fans will be on the lookout for young Bayern Munich winger Julian Green. The 18-year-old has yet to feature for Bayern’s first team, but has been a regular for Bayern II. Green has also played for Germany at youth level. The pacy winger had only amassed one cap before being called up to the World Cup squad.

For a full view of the USA squad visit our United States team page.

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Pueble), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski ( San Jose Earthquakes).

STANDBY LIST: Terrence Boyd (Rapid Wien), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Landon Donovan ( LAGalaxy), Maurice Edu (Stoke City, on loan at Philadelphia Union), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew).

Extratime.ie will be covering the FIFA World Cup 2014 from the first kick of a ball to the last with reports and news. We will also have regular features from our reporter in Brazil – Macdara Ferris.