Team USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann doesn't believe the Americans have a realistic chance of winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While Klinsmann has his doubts, former Team USA star Landon Donovan is optimistic about the squad's chances of making a run for the championship.
Klinsmann believes that although his team has improved but isn't quite ready to compete for football's biggest prize.
"You have to be realistic. Every year we are getting stronger," Klinsmann told reporters in Brazil, via ESPN. "We don't look at ourselves as underdogs. We are not. We are going to take the game to Ghana and they will take it to us and it will be an exciting game and then we go from there.
"For us talking about winning a World Cup, it is just not realistic. If it is American or not, you can correct me."
Klinsmann made similar comments in December to The New York Times Magazine.
Donovan, however, disagreed.
"This will come as a surprise to nobody, but I don't agree with Jurgen," Donovan said on ESPN. "As someone who's been in that locker room, and has sat next to the players, we agree with the American Outlaws - 'We believe that we will win.' I think that's the way American thinks. I think that's the sentiment."
The Americans are arguably in the toughest group, which is also comprised of Ghana, Germany and Portugal. Donovan believes if USA can advance from the group stage, there's no reason not to believe they can win the whole tournament.
"If we're really expected to go out and beat Portugal and beat Ghana and beat Germany, in my opinion, Germany is one of the best trams in the world, if you can beat Germany, why can't you beat anybody else?" Donovan said. "It doesn't mean it's going to happen, but I believe. I think all of America believes. We can do it."
Donovan, who didn't make the 23-man USA roster for Brazil, made his comments during his first day as an ESPN analyst for the World Cup.
Team USA opens the tournament on Monday against Ghana.
