United States soccer star Landon Donovan, 32, may have felt some type of way after being left off this year’s World Cup team, but he isn’t allowing that to sour his retirement tour.
According to Grant Wahl of SI.com, Donovan will represent his country one last time in a friendly against Ecuador in October.
“Playing for the U.S. national team has been a huge part of my career and I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to play for my country one last time,” Donovan said in a U.S. Soccer statement. “I’m so grateful to all the fans that have supported me and this game will give me the chance to say thank you to all of them. I look forward to a great evening and I’m thankful to U.S. Soccer for making this happen.”
The decision to play comes on the heels of Donovan taking a perceived shot at U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who cut him from the final World Cup roster in May. Earlier this month during his retirement press conference, Donovan called Klinsmann’s decision a “poor choice” and stated he wouldn’t allow it to affect his decision to retire.
It will be interesting to see how Donovan responds to Klinsmann’s coaching during the match, but judging by the gravity of the event; chances are nothing of note will happen and it will go off without a hitch.
[h/t SI]