Landon Donovan Fights the Club vs. Country Battle

By: Laurie | June 8th, 2007

When it comes to the club vs. country debate, I’ll cheerfully admit to being a complete, total, utter, hypocrite.

If I am wearing my France National Team Zealot hat? Well, obviously country should come first. Guys like Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho just need to suck it up and deal with it. And if a player doesn’t want to play for country, like Chelsea’s Claude Makélélé after World Cup? Of course the NT coach has every right to invoke FIFA rules to call him up anyway, threatening his ability to play for club if he doesn’t comply. And Mr. Mourinho? That slavery comparison was totally out of line.

When it comes to the Galaxy, though? Well, seriously, why should Landon Donovan be forced to play for the US in every single tournament and game that comes along if he would prefer to play for his club?

In defense of my seemingly contradictory positions, the scheduling situation is completely different in Europe. International fixtures generally don’t conflict with club games. National teams have officially recognized weeks for international play. They’ll generally play twice during that week, and during that time the club seasons go on hiatus. Then the following week everybody goes back to their respective clubs and everything continues on as before. The conflicts between Club managers and National Coaches are more about things like injury fears and lack of communication rather than about players being completely absent from club games for long periods of time. Which is, of course, what we’re facing in MLS. An entirely different story.

Keep in mind here that I’m still new to following US soccer, but here’s my understanding: Landon’s required by the rules to play for Gold Cup when he’s called up, but not for Copa America. But of course the expectation is that playing for the US is such an honor that nobody should ever say no, and if they do they’ll get multiple frowny faces on their Permanent Record. Have I got it right so far?

The problem is, though, we’re talking about Landon Donovan. And Donovan doesn’t care about those multiple frowny faces. Donovan has a history of following his heart rather than other people’s expectations. And it’s driving people nuts. One would think he was considering dismembering babies or something.

But!! you’re saying. The National Team NEEDS him!! Well, yes, okay, but so does the Galaxy. If he prefers one over the other and the rules don’t state anywhere that he has to play where he doesn’t want to play… Then what’s the problem?

But what about guys like Eddie Johnson? And his team, the Kansas City Wizards? If Eddie has to play for the NT while Landon plays for the Galaxy, the Galaxy will have an unfair advantage!

Well, yeah, maybe so. But this is only an issue if he cares about those frowny faces on his Permanent Record. We make our own choices.

Of course the best, ultimate answer to this problem is to develop European-style scheduling. And I see that happening in…oh…fifty years?