USMNT: ‘B-Team’ Gold Cup Roster Bringing the Feel-Good Factor

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 12, 2013

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This was supposed to be America's B-Team. Without Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Tim Howard on the roster, U.S. Soccer's brightest stars and biggest names supposedly weren't around. But thanks to the early exploits of Landon Donovan, Chris Wondolowski and Stuart Holden, this group is showing the potential to become the feel-good hit of the summer.

As the United States national soccer team prepares for its second match in the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage Saturday against Cuba, the storylines are as heartwarming as the squad's tournament-opening 6-1 victory over Belize on Tuesday night.

Leading the way is Donovan, the veteran-turned-outsider still finding his way back after a self-imposed exile from soccer.

Then there's Wondolowski, another veteran on the wrong side of 30 who, unlike Donovan, hasn't enjoyed success at the international level—until, perhaps, now.

Finally there's Holden, the one-time rising star now playing the role of comeback kid to endearing perfection.

“I think it’s a very, very good team we've put together here for this Gold Cup and with a tremendous amount of experience and guys that know that this is a huge, huge opportunity,” Klinsmann told MLSSoccer.com's Jonah Freedman before the tournament, disputing the notion that this U.S. squad was a B-team.



Klinsmann added: “It’s also one year away from the World Cup. So it’s about World Cup spots, (and) it’s about proving to everyone we want to be No. 1 in CONCACAF.”

For Donovan, the challenge is clear. A veteran of three World Cups, the 31-year-old has a chance to cap a sterling international career with another Cup appearance next year in Brazil. His spot seemed a foregone conclusion until he ruled himself out of key qualifiers during a self-imposed break from the game early in 2013.

After his return however, Donovan foun...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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