Former Everton star Landon Donovan has criticized his native United States national team, claiming that they did not deserve to qualify for the World Cup.
The United States have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago during their final fixture.
The United States ended up finishing fifth in the final round of Concacaf qualifying, outside the place for a place in the intercontinental playoffs.
Donovan, who is in joint first position in the list of all time top scorers for the United States national team along with Clint Dempsey on 57 goals, was scathing towards the Yanks following the disappointment.
He said: “It should never come down to having score one goal in Trinidad to get to the World Cup. In our history we’ve had to do that, but I think we’re past those days where that should happen.
“The reality is we lost two games at home in qualifying…and we lost a game in Trinidad against a team that had nothing to play for.
“And so that’s sort of the reality of the situation. It’s unacceptable in every way and it’s disappointing and we got what we deserved.
“If you can’t win more games at home in qualifying and if you can’t beat Trinidad in a game that matters for us and doesn’t for them, then you don’t deserve to go to the World Cup.”
