World Cup 2006 News

'Where was Landon Donovan?' US commentators and fans seek answers

Jun 22, 2006, 17:16 GMT

Washington - As the United States heads home with only one point from three World Cup matches, fans and former players were left to ponder what went wrong.

'Where was Landon Donovan?' asked former US women's football star Julie Foudy, after the US fell 2-1 to Ghana on Thursday, ending their hopes of advancing to the second round.

Midfielder Donovan showed precious little of the form that made him an overnight hero when the US made the quarter-finals four years ago.

Eric Wynalda, the top goalscorer in the US team's history, laid the blame with coach Bruce Arena for his defensive set-up, playing Brian McBride alone up front in all three games.

Arena 'did not make the right moves in this World Cup,' Wynalda said.

US Coach Arena was the longest serving national team manager at this World Cup, taking over the US squad after they came bottom of their group in France in 1998.