Soccer | Galaxy star Landon Donovan kept off Olympic roster

Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, widely regarded as America's top soccer player and the captain of the U.S. national team, was not included Thursday when the U.S. named its roster for the Beijing Olympics.

Coach Peter Nowak could have named Donovan as one of three "overage" players permitted to take part in the under-23 tournament, but instead opted for goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defender Michael Parkhurst and veteran forward Brian McBride.

The decision was based on the fact that the U.S. has a 2010 World Cup qualifying game on the road against Guatemala at the same time that Olympic Games are being played in China.

Nowak said Thursday that he and national team coach Bob Bradley sought to make sure that the U.S. fields the strongest possible teams in both events, and the belief is that Donovan is needed more in the World Cup qualifier.

"Landon is a really vital part of the senior team," Nowak said. "As much as I would love to have him, needs are needs and World Cup qualifiers are not simple games."

The Galaxy was traveling to New York for today's MLS game against the Red Bulls and Donovan was not available for comment. He said earlier this year that he wanted to play in the Olympics.

Nowak's 18-man roster features nine players from Major League Soccer, including Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan, and nine players who are based either in Europe or Mexico.

The U.S. plays Japan, the Netherlands and Nigeria in the first round.

"We had some tough decisions to make," Nowak said of the roster selection. "It's no secret that the group we play in is very difficult, probably one of the toughest in the whole tournament, but we are looking forward to the challenge."

The Dutch are considered the group favorite; Nigeria comes in having finished second behind Argentina in the Under-20 World Cup in 2005, and the Japanese make for a problematic first-game opponent.

But on Thursday the chosen players were simply celebrating their selection, now worrying about the matches to come.

"I don't think it's really sunken in yet, and I don't think it will until we actually get there," Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden said on U.S. Soccer's Web site. "It's something I've been thinking about for a long time, though. I was brought up watching the Olympics, and now to think that I'm going to be a part of that is kind of surreal."

Toronto FC defender Marvel Wynne, one of three former UCLA players on the roster, was equally in awe.