So the big story in US football ahead of the World Cup is Landon Gonovan! Yes, that's the witty pun dreamed up by our Team 33 host Richard Chambers.

That decision by USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann to leave Donovan out of his squad for Brazil has overshadowed the team's preparations.

But was it the right decision and is this squad good enough to get out of the tough group that the US has been placed in?

To get closer to an answer, on Episode 4 of Team 33 we spoke to the highly experienced sports columnist George Vecsey.

The New York Times writer and author of Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer which charts his vast experience covering the world's greatest sports tournament, tell us why this squad is not good enough to make an impact and why he questions the decision to leave out Donovan.

Vecsey also details the real reasons why Klinsmann has left out Donovan and how the situation differs to the dropping of former captain John Harkes prior to the 1998 World Cup for vastly different reasons.

Vecsey also tells us how soccer is becoming ever more popular in the US of A and how much interest there will be in the World Cup among American audiences.

Listen to the full interview below or subscribe to Team 33 for free via iTunes: