Landon Donovan Blasts USMNT After Nations League Failure

The early elimination of the United States national team from the CONCACAF Nations League sparked a wave of criticism, but none as forceful as that of Landon Donovan. After the semifinal loss to Panama and the defeat in the third-place match against Canada, the American idol erupted on social media:

“I'm tired of hearing how talented this group is and which clubs they play for. If they're not going to show commitment to the National Team, decline the call-up. Talent is fine, but pride is better.”

Landon Donovan is not just any voice: he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of American soccer. During his career with the national team, he played 157 matches and scored 57 goals, making him the all-time leading scorer for the USMNT, tied with Clint Dempsey. He also represented the United States in three World Cups (2002, 2006, and 2010), won the CONCACAF Gold Cup four times (2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013), and was named the tournament's Best Player in 2013.

The current USMNT coach, Mauricio Pochettino, acknowledged his team's poor performance but urged calm:

“I prefer this happens now and not closer to the World Cup. There's time to fix this.”

Even so, the disappointment is immense: the United States had won the previous three editions of the tournament, but this time they did not get past fourth place. Pochettino tries to maintain faith, but the atmosphere around the team is more critical than ever, and influential voices like Donovan's reflect a growing discontent among fans and former players.