Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan will not participate in the U.S. national team friendly against Germany next Wednesday (2:25 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in Dortmund, Germany. U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that the 24-year-old suffered a strained right calf in the Galaxy's CONCACAF Champions' Cup second-leg loss to Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa on March 8. Donovan is expected to be out of action for two to three weeks.
Donovan will not be replaced on the roster, taking U.S. national team manager Bruce Arena's roster of available players for the encounter down to 18. Eleven of the 18 players left on the squad call Major League Soccer home.
With 77 career appearances for the Red, White and Blue, Donovan was tied with Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope as the second-most capped players on the roster, behind goalkeeper Kasey Keller (90 appearances). Donovan was also looking to take sole possession of second place in all-time assists for the U.S. side, as he has already matched the mark of 22 set by his Galaxy teammate Cobi Jones. Donovan is also third all-time in goals with 25.
The U.S. squad is set to arrive in Germany on Sunday ahead of their clash with a nearly full-strength German side. The match is not on an official FIFA international fixture date, but the German soccer federation reached an agreement with its domestic clubs to ensure that all healthy players selected for the side will be available to coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Deisler will not be available after suffering a knee injury in training this week that threatens to keep him out of the World Cup, but the impressive roster includes Bayern star Michael Ballack, who scored the only goal when Germany ousted the U.S. from the 2002 World Cup in Korea at the quarterfinal stage.
The U.S. is undefeated in 2006 with a 4-0-1 record. Following Wednesday's game, Arena's side will have four home contests before the 2006 World Cup. The Americans will face the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana in Group E play at this summer's tournament. Arena must name his final 23-man roster no later than May 15.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
