GOTEBORG, Sweden — Landon Donovan could become the United States' career scoring leader when the Americans play Sweden in an exhibition game tonight.
The 25-year-old forward is tied with Eric Wynalda with 34 goals for the national team. He also could break U.S. records for goals and points in a year. Donovan's nine goals equal the mark set by Wynalda in 1996, and his 21 points match Cobi Jones' output in 2000.
Donovan's last competitive games in Europe for the national team were in the World Cup in Germany last year, when the Americans didn't survive the first round.
"In the past we haven't played very well in Europe," Donovan said after the team's last workout Tuesday. "So for us it's another opportunity to do well against a European team in Europe. Obviously, the game doesn't mean anything towards anything. But it's a very good experience for us."
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley agreed.
"I think we won once or twice in Europe in the past five years or something like that," Beasley said. "It's going to be tough tomorrow. We're trying to change it. That's why we play more games in Europe, to get our players more experience. Hopefully that (win) can come Wednesday."
Up to 13 players from the United States' CONCACAF Gold Cup squad could be in uniform tonight at Ullevi Stadium. The Americans won the tournament in June, beating Mexico in the final in Chicago.
The U.S. is 10-1-3 in 2007, and coach Bob Bradley is making his first trip to Europe with the team.
"We have two big goals," he said. "To challenge some experienced players to take bigger roles — players like Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and DaMarcus Beasley — and to get young players into the side — players like Benny Feilhaber, Jonathan Bornstein and Michael Bradley."
It's only an exhibition, but Bradley thinks it's important in the development of the team after the Gold Cup and Copa America.
"I would like to see our team take some of the things that we've done throughout the summer, especially in the Gold Cup," Bradley said. "Our movement as a team is very good, our ability to play quickly is very good."
European-based players make up all but three men on the United States' roster, with Donovan, defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni of the Colorado Rapids and defender Jonathan Bornstein of Chivas USA being the exceptions. Eight members of the U.S. squad play in England and four in Germany.
Sal Zizzo, a 20-year-old forward, is making his first international appearance with the national team.
The U.S. played its first official game in Sweden in 1916 — an exhibition at Olympic Stadium in Stockholm that the Americans won 3-2.
This will be the sixth meeting between the countries. Sweden leads 3-2 edge, although the U.S. won the last game 1-0 in Orlando, Fla., in 1998.
The Swedes have won six times in seven games in European Championship qualifying. This will be their last tuneup before meeting archrival Denmark in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Stockholm on Sept. 8.
Sweden leads Group F just past the halfway mark of the qualifying phase, three points ahead of Spain and five ahead of Northern Ireland. Sweden reached the second round in the last two World Cups and qualified for the last two European Championships.
Sweden is trying to snap a 12-game winless streak in exhibitions. It is 0-6-6 since beating the Czech Republic in late 2005.
"I think it's always better to win games," Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said. "But it seems the results in those friendlies don't seem to be that important because we've managed quite well in competitive matches."