Bondy: Donovan and Jurgen get kicks

Klinsmann isn't making any guarantees anymore on Donovan's behalf, not since the player's extended sabbatical from soccer and the national team. Still, it's hard to believe Klinsmann will be able to ignore Donovan's talents much longer. Fred Beckham/AP

Landon Donovan is out to show he still can play a large role for the US National team.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Gold Cup tournament is about a lot of things, most of them not very important. But it is also right now about Landon Donovan and his relationship with Jurgen Klinsmann, which may yet determine the success of the Americans at the World Cup next year in Brazil.

It is hard to think of the U.S. national team without envisioning Donovan streaking down the right wing in Pretoria, rescuing the Americans at the 2010 World Cup with his goal in added time against Algeria. He is a quality attacker who has always performed at top form for the national team, even during periods when his club career was stalling.

Donovan was out there Tuesday night before 25,432 fans at Rentschler Field, earning his 52nd career assist for the U.S. on a perfect lead pass in the 82nd minute to Brek Shea for the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. Klinsmann has been playing Donovan up top, which is not his best position, and Costa Rica deployed a five-man back line that made his life more difficult. Still, he created some angles, some mischief, and then that in-stride pass to Shea on the counter from the right side, Donovan's favorite acreage.

"The reality is every game is an audition," Donovan said. "I want to be consistent when my number is called, I want to be ready. I'll leave the evaluation to others."

The eighth straight victory, a team record, sealed the Group C title, which means the U.S. will next face El Salvador in a Gold Cup quarterfinal Sunday in Baltimore. Costa Rica plays Honduras there as part of a doubleheader.

Donovan remains the most significant chess piece in this whole CONCACAF tournament. All eyes are on his play, and on his evolving relationship with Klinsmann. There was a time when Klinsmann stuck his neck far out there for Donovan, bringing the American to Bayern Munich for a trial that did not go well in 2009 and may have contributed to the coach's own downfall there.

Klinsmann isn't making any guarantees anymore on Donovan's behalf, not since the player's extended sabbatical from soccer and the national team. Still, it's hard to believe Klinsmann will be able to ignore Donovan's talents much longer.

"His leadership in that moment, it's very important," Klinsmann said of Donovan's winning assist. "A beautiful combination there. The pass was perfect. The things we asked Landon to do, he did."

Donovan had shown solid form in the first two Gold Cup matches, demonstrating again how he can initiate attacks from the flanks and how cool he can be converting penalty kicks. He had more difficulty this time due to Costa Rica's cautious tactics.