Landon Donovan: I deserved to be in Brazil

Landon Donovan returned to LA Galaxy practice this morning for the first time since his dismissal from United States World Cup prep camp. Disappointed at not being including on the twenty-three man roster, Donovan took questions from reporters on how he felt having his fourth World Cup bid cut short.

"I thought if I was only judged on what happened in camp," said Landon Donovan, "I deserved to be in Brazil."

Jurgen Klinsmann in his comments was also quite clear that Donovan and the other players cut from camp did everything right. This has to mean that coming into camp, Klinsmann already had twenty three other players listed ahead of him on the depth chart. Donovan didn't share that perspective, and told reporters he disagreed with Klinsmann's assessment.

"I not only thought I was part of the 23, I thought I was in contention to be starting."

Not being at camp with the players, it's tough to know what the scrimmage situation was like. Players can usually tell where they're being considered by what groups they're put in. For a player to think they're up for a starting spot and then to end up being an alternate for a super sub role, there must have been some disconnect between him and his coach.

Donovan told reporters he won't talk about his exclusion after today, so attention now turns to Sunday's matchup with the Philadelphia Union and seeing if something happens that causes Donovan to get called back into camp.