Galaxy’s Gonzalez called up by national team; Donovan left out

Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez was among 23 players called into camp Monday ahead of the U.S. national team’s final two games of the year, against Scotland in Glasgow on Friday, and against Austria in Vienna four days later.

However, Gonzalez’s teammate Landon Donovan, who leads the U.S. with eight goals and eight assists, was left off the roster. Donovan’s omission was blamed on a sore left ankle that caused him to be dropped from the team for the final World Cup qualifier last month in Panama.

Also called up was midfielder Michael Bradley, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since spraining his ankle in warm-ups for a Sept. 6 World Cup qualifier in Costa Rica, and Seattle Sounders teammates Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson.

The two European friendlies give Jurgen Klinsmann’s team a chance to put an exclamation point on what has already been a record season. The U.S. topped the table in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying -- pitching shutouts in all five of its home qualifiers -- and rolled unbeaten through July’s Gold Cup.

For the year, the U.S. is 16-3-2 with the 16 wins marking the most ever by a U.S. team in a calendar year.

“We are excited about the group we have coming in and the big opportunity to finish the year on a high note,” Klinsmann said. “We want to use these games to prove a point and see that our players are continuing to improve as we build toward the World Cup.”

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (Galaxy), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Michael Orozco (Puebla)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Roma), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Stoke City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

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