Donovan to miss France contest

Landon Donovan has withdrawn from the USA squad for Friday's friendly against France at the Stade de France, preferring to train with the Los Angeles Galaxy for the MLS final against Houston on 20 November. Donovan missed last month's friendlies with a quadricep strain. Donovan and Clint Dempsey, the USA's top two attacking players, haven't been on the pitch together since Jurgen Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley as coach in July. USA coach Klinsmann said he had expected Donovan to play against France, then return home and miss the friendly in Slovenia four days later. "The plan was to have Landon come in for the match against France and then return to the LA Galaxy in preparation for MLS Cup, but after further discussion Landon expressed his desire to stay in Los Angeles," Klinsmann said. "While my preference was to have Landon with us for this important match, I respect his decision," Klinsmann said. Klinsmann, the former German superstar who was named USA coach on 29 July, has one win and a draw in five matches in the job, his lone triumph a 1-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly in Miami.