McKennie Backs U.S. Absentees

Midfielder says it's better for those who don't feel 100% to rest, forgo national duty

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LOS ANGELES - A day after Landon Donovan lambasted members of the United States men's national football team who decided to skip this summer's friendlies and Concacaf Gold Cup, midfielder Weston McKennie came to the defense of his teammates.

Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Yunus Musah are among the US mainstays who are not with the team, ostensibly to rest after the European season.

The national squad are also missing numerous other players due to injury or involvement in the upcoming Club World Cup, where McKennie is set to compete with Juventus.

While lauding Cristiano Ronaldo for helping lead Portugal to the Nations League title on June 8 with a win over Spain, former US national player Donovan took a shot at the current American absentees.

"This is what it means to represent your country," he said, speaking of Ronaldo on the Fox broadcast in which he was a pundit for the final.