Donovan keen to start Gold Cup final

United States star Landon Donovan has said starting on the bench is beginning to frustrate him, ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

The Los Angeles Galaxy forward is the country’s all-time top scorer, netting 45 times in 135 internationals, but coach Bob Bradley has elected to start the 29-year-old on the bench for both the quarter-finals and semis – meaning a spot in the starting line-up for the final against Mexico is in jeopardy.

Donovan said beginning on the pine was starting to wear a little thin, and was hopeful of a start in Saturday’s final in Pasadena.

“No competitor ever likes to start on the bench so if anyone says that, they are lying to you,” Donvan said.

“Fortunately I don’t get paid to make those decisions but what’s important for me is not when I play, where I play, how many minutes I am playing – it is that I am effective when I do play.”

Saturday’s game will be the third successive final between the United States and Mexico, with the Americans victorious in 2007 and Mexico winning in 2009, and US goalkeeper Tim Howard is hopeful of a special match.

“It’s what everyone wanted,” Howard said. “You know it’s always a great occasion.”

“I’ve said as a US player that’s how you’re measured, how you face Mexico, how you do, and the fact that it’s in the final makes it more special. Tomorrow is going to be an amazing event.”

Mexico are aiming for a record ninth Gold Cup, and their coach Jose Manuel de la Torre agrees with Howard that the rivalry with the US is an exceptional one.

“Well, the rivalry has grown over the years,” de la Torre said. “It’s become something important for all the Mexican people living in America. It’s a classic game now.”

“That makes the game a little heated, as we say. But in the end it’s still just a football game.”

“We’re both good teams and we have good coaches and it has taken us a lot of work to get where we are today.”