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Landon Donovan hat-trick powers hooped Yanks over Scotland in friendly

Besides looking like a bunch of Where's Waldos (Wally for our British brothers) for 90-plus minutes in their new hooped kits, the U.S. national team managed to put up a five spot down in Jacksonville, three of those coming from Landon "less is more for me" Donovan in a 5-1 win over Scotland. USA's scoring was rounded out with a header from Jermaine Jones and a Wayney Rooney-esque bomb of a half volley (video above) from Michael Bradley adding to Donovan's three tallies.

Upon his return to the squad after a lengthy national team hiatus, Donovan strongly answered any questions he incited earlier in the week about his ability to perform while currently struggling with his hunger for the game. His all-time U.S. men's national team goal mark now sits at 49. In addition to the goals, Donovan also put Jones' 59th minute header on a silver platter and sprung the layoff for Bradley's 10th minute blast. Basically that bro-ski straight killed it out there.

After a run of four straight W's, including a 1-0 road win over Italy last February, hopeful USA fans are starting to see glimpses of the magic U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann worked for his motherland during the 2006 World Cup cycle. The start of camp has seen a chance given to some new youngsters, like Borussia Dortmund reserve striker Terrance Boyd, and seen some still pretty young players, like Michael Bradley, further solidify themselves as integral pieces in Klinsmann's puzzle. Clint Dempsey is hopeful to be ready to play Wednesday night in Maryland. The coach has made it clear that he is treating this run of five summer fixtures as a miniature tournament of sorts, and if that was the case you could say the U.S. got off to a pretty good start. You also could say that its opponent for the next round, Brazil, won't be as much of a pushover.

As for Donovan: The outcry over his comments made to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl earlier this week was pretty ridiculous in the first place. American supporters should know by now after watching and getting to know Donovan on a professional level for the past 13 years that regardless of what's going on in his head, his effort on the field usually isn't going to change. Luckily for Klinsmann and co., that effort can still produce a good amount of goals. Even at the age of 30.

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