Landon Donovan, the most prolific goal scorer in US men’s national team history, had some pointed words for the squad after their 3-2 loss to Turkiye on June 20. The game didn’t matter in terms of advancement. But Donovan thinks the performance mattered a lot in terms of what it revealed.
The USMNT had already clinched Group D after convincing wins over Paraguay and Australia, so head coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated nine starters against Turkiye. It was supposed to be an audition for the bench players, a chance to prove they deserved minutes in the knockout rounds. By Donovan’s assessment, most of them flunked.
What Donovan actually said
Donovan, who earned 157 caps and holds USMNT records with 57 goals and 58 assists, has never been shy about criticizing the team’s mentality. He did it during the 2014 World Cup cycle, and he’s doing it again now with the stakes arguably higher on home soil.
His core complaint centers on effort and mindset. Even in a game that was functionally meaningless for Group D standings, Donovan sees value in how players approach those 90 minutes. A rotated lineup losing 3-2 to Turkiye isn’t a crisis. But players who can’t raise their game when given a rare opportunity? That’s a red flag heading into elimination matches.
