Indeed, for a whole generation of soccer fans in the United States, the name of Landon Donovan is one that has largely been hallowed, revered, and simply synonymous with the very being of the national team. Realistically speaking, who could blame these fans for holding Donovan in such a high regard? After all, it is he who has been, to a man, the best and most dynamic player this country has ever produced, and it is he who has been so very central to almost any measure of success the United States have accomplished over the last twelve years.
And yet, despite such an impressive resume, pedigree and reputation, Landon Donovan (barring injury to another player) will not be gracing the shores of Brazil this summer for one final go of it on the game's biggest stage. The script always said that Donovan would be there for his fourth World Cup, but as scripts go, they are often meant to be crumpled up and thrown away in the end. So it is that this fate has befallen Donovan in what looks to be the twilight of his career, and this reality has sent several corners of the US Soccer scene into histrionics.
