June 10, 2010 12:10 PM
Quiet Superstar Might Achieve US World Cup Goals
The U.S. national soccer team staged a dramatic comeback in Philadelphia Saturday, beating Turkey in a warm-up match for the World Cup, which begins in South Africa June 10.
The face of Team USA is a player named Landon Donovan, a quiet American superstar quickly making his mark around the world, CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor reports.
(Scroll down to watch Jeff Glor's report on Landon Donovan)
He's in commercials, racy magazine photo spreads and best-selling video games, but chances are most people haven't heard of Donovan unless they're soccer fans.
"He's the best american soccer player ever," said Grant Wahl, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated.
Though Donovan is a star forward for the Los Angeles Galaxy and the most famous member of Team USA, soccer here doesn't have the same rabid fan base as it does nearly everywhere else around the world, so Donovan can still get around fairly anonymously.
"We're clearly not the NFL, the NBA, major league baseball, probably not even NHL," said Donovan. "Me personally, as an athlete, there's a beauty in being somewhat high profile but not having the lifestyle and the paparazzi and people following you like some really high profile athletes have."
Growing up in California, Donovan began playing soccer at age 5, scoring seven goals in his first game. He finished high school and went straight to the under-17 national team, bypassing college.
Now 28, Donovan has already been on the national team for 10 years, with more assists and more goals than any other player in U.S. history.
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said Donovan's gotten better as he has aged.
"He's a much more complete player now than he has been in previous years," Arena said.
But for serious soccer fans, what got Donovan the most attention was his highly successful 10-week stint this winter, playing for Everton of the ultra-competitive and ultra-exclusive English Premier League.
"There was real energy and respect between the fans and myself," Donovan said.
In England, some fans, for better or worse, are at times predisposed to not liking American players. By the end of Donovan's tour there, they were chanting - in the vein of USA - "You must stay!" to Donovan, which he describes as "incredible."
A few years ago, the Galaxy poached a big European player: David Beckham. But Donovan put himself in hot water by calling Beckham a bad teammate and questioning his commitment.
"Donovan was candid as far as what Beckham's arrival did to change his world, and I think he was upset," Wahl said.
To this day he is defending himself, such as when Donovan was a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" May 12.
"True or false: some guys think it was a big waste of money to bring David Beckham here?" Kimmel asked Donovan.
"I'm not getting into that," said Donovan. "We love David. We do."
But Donovan also believes that anything - or anyone - that attract people to the game will help U.S. soccer in the long run.
"What we see in our stadiums are people that are in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s who are watching the game, and what you need is those people to be passionate, having kids that grow up playing," said Donovan. "That's how you start building, but it doesn't happen overnight."
For Donovan, there is no secret to what he considers success at the World Cup this year: the U.S. advancing out of its group, which likely means at least two wins. Realistic expectations from the most realistic hope American soccer fans have.
The U.S. opens play in the World Cup with a highly anticipated match against England on June 11.
Watch CBS News Videos Online
The face of Team USA is a player named Landon Donovan, a quiet American superstar quickly making his mark around the world, CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor reports.
(Scroll down to watch Jeff Glor's report on Landon Donovan)
He's in commercials, racy magazine photo spreads and best-selling video games, but chances are most people haven't heard of Donovan unless they're soccer fans.
"He's the best american soccer player ever," said Grant Wahl, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated.
Though Donovan is a star forward for the Los Angeles Galaxy and the most famous member of Team USA, soccer here doesn't have the same rabid fan base as it does nearly everywhere else around the world, so Donovan can still get around fairly anonymously.
"We're clearly not the NFL, the NBA, major league baseball, probably not even NHL," said Donovan. "Me personally, as an athlete, there's a beauty in being somewhat high profile but not having the lifestyle and the paparazzi and people following you like some really high profile athletes have."
Growing up in California, Donovan began playing soccer at age 5, scoring seven goals in his first game. He finished high school and went straight to the under-17 national team, bypassing college.
Now 28, Donovan has already been on the national team for 10 years, with more assists and more goals than any other player in U.S. history.
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said Donovan's gotten better as he has aged.
"He's a much more complete player now than he has been in previous years," Arena said.
But for serious soccer fans, what got Donovan the most attention was his highly successful 10-week stint this winter, playing for Everton of the ultra-competitive and ultra-exclusive English Premier League.
"There was real energy and respect between the fans and myself," Donovan said.
In England, some fans, for better or worse, are at times predisposed to not liking American players. By the end of Donovan's tour there, they were chanting - in the vein of USA - "You must stay!" to Donovan, which he describes as "incredible."
A few years ago, the Galaxy poached a big European player: David Beckham. But Donovan put himself in hot water by calling Beckham a bad teammate and questioning his commitment.
"Donovan was candid as far as what Beckham's arrival did to change his world, and I think he was upset," Wahl said.
To this day he is defending himself, such as when Donovan was a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" May 12.
"True or false: some guys think it was a big waste of money to bring David Beckham here?" Kimmel asked Donovan.
"I'm not getting into that," said Donovan. "We love David. We do."
But Donovan also believes that anything - or anyone - that attract people to the game will help U.S. soccer in the long run.
"What we see in our stadiums are people that are in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s who are watching the game, and what you need is those people to be passionate, having kids that grow up playing," said Donovan. "That's how you start building, but it doesn't happen overnight."
For Donovan, there is no secret to what he considers success at the World Cup this year: the U.S. advancing out of its group, which likely means at least two wins. Realistic expectations from the most realistic hope American soccer fans have.
The U.S. opens play in the World Cup with a highly anticipated match against England on June 11.
Watch CBS News Videos Online
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