And the 28-year-old insists he will do far better in South Africa.
Midfielder Donovan, arguably the USA's star player, flopped in Germany four years ago as his team endured a poor tournament and finished bottom of their group.
But as he prepares for his third World Cup, he says he is confident he has learned from the experience.
"I don't think back any longer," Donovan said of Germany 2006.
"I thought back for a while, and now I focus on the present. That lesson has been well learned and won't be duplicated."
"I am who I am as a player now. I'm not going to learn how to shoot the ball better in the next few years. The biggest improvement that I've made has been mentally."
Donovan, who has enjoyed a successful season with Premiership side Everton after joining on loan from LA Galaxy, is currently taking part in a pre-tournament training camp with his USA team-mates at Princeton University.
The USA open their Group C campaign against England on June 12, and will then face Slovenia and Algeria.
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