Landon Donovan, who was a pundit for today’s Spain v Portugal game, took shots at USMNT players sitting this summer out 😳
“This is what it means to represent your country. If you don’t want to take it seriously as a professional soccer player and someone who gets the opportunity to wear the jersey, then don’t come in,” Donovan said while looking at Portuguese players celebrating.
“[Cristiano Ronaldo] is 40 years old, he played a long season, he was out there grinding and got hurt in the process. And I can’t help but think about our guys on vacation not wanting to play in Gold Cup. It’s pissing me off.”
In the post-match interview, Portugal’s Bruno Fernandes was asked where players get the strength to play after a long season. He answered that playing for your country is a dream for every player and that’s it. Donovan loved that answer.
“I’m beating a dead horse but I don’t care. I care about this country and I care about our national team. We don’t have enough of that, what you just heard. We need more of that leading into the Gold Cup and World Cup,” Donovan said following Fernandes’ interview.
“Our fans have that passion. We read it every day on Twitter. We see it in the stands. They want to feel that and they want their players to feel that too. These guys [Portuguese players] feel it.”
[via FOX Sports]