Posted on October 9, 2012
Scratch Landon Donovan and Brek Shea from this phase of World Cup qualifying.
Both U.S. players on Tuesday were ruled out of upcoming games against Antigua & Barbuda (Friday) and Guatemala (Oct. 16) after further evaluations were conducted by the U.S. Soccer medical staff.
That means Donovan will miss another two World Cup qualifying matches, making in four in a row.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann indicated that no immediate replacements will be added to the roster.
Donovan, the U.S.’s all-time goal-scoer (49 goals in 144 matches), suffered a knee injury in the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 loss on Saturday night. He was scheduled to return to Los Angeles on tuesday to be further evaluated by club doctors.
That meant Donovan will miss four consecutive qualifying matches. He was sidelined from the two games against Jamaica in September with a hamstring injury.
Shea entered camp with an abdominal strain that he kept him sidelined from FC Dallas games since Sept. 29. He will continue treatment in Dallas.
“It’s unfortunate for Landon and Brek that they won’t be able to play,” Klinsmann said in a statement. “Landon was very optimistic over the weekend when his knee was feeling much better, but now he needs time to recover. We knew Brek was a question mark coming in, and now we have a clear picture of where he stands. We feel confident that the group we have will get the job done.”
The U.S. team is in Miami to prepare for its final two matches of the CONCACAF Group A semifinal round of qualifying.
The U.S. is tied with Guatemala on top of the group with seven points and matching totals in goal differential and goals scored. Jamaica also has seven points but sits in third place due to a lower goal differential. With the three nations tied on points and jockeying for the top two spots, no team will be able to secure a place in the hexagonal until the last group matches are played next Tuesday.
As part of the continuing effort to connect with the fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team will host
The revised U.S. roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (7) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4) : Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Photo: Landon Donovan will miss yet another two World Cup qualifying matches. Photo by Joy Rubenstein
Categories: Antigua and Barbuda, Guatemala, Jamaica, North America, U.S.A., World Cup Qualifying
Tags: Brek Shea, CONCACAF, Juergen Klinsmann, Landon Donovan, World Cup qualifying
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