Top Stories

USMNT starters headline MLS Fan XI for 2014 All Star Game

Clint Dempsey (2)

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

The U.S. Men’s National Team will be well represented in the 2014 All-Star Game against Bayern Munich in Portland, Ore.

Major League Soccer announced the results of the Fan XI on Wednesday evening, and the side features no less than eight members of the USMNT at the World Cup. The Fan XI includes USMNT captain Clint Dempsey and his Seattle Sounders teammate DeAndre Yedlin, Sporting KC pair Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, and forwards Thierry Henry, Obafemi Martins and Landon Donovan.

The players on the Fan XI accrued the most votes from the fans over two platforms, online through MLSSoccer.com and on Twitter.

Martins earned his place in the Fan XI through the “More than a vote” challenge, which saw fans score more than one million goals while playing as Martins on the FIFA 14 video game.

Players voted to the MLS Fan XI are not locks to be on the game roster. Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter will select the roster based on availability and tactical considerations, but every member of the Fan XI is considered an All Star, for CBA purposes.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber will also make two picks to the game-day roster of 20 players.

Players who finished just outside the Fan XI include: Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Júlio César (Toronto FC), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC) and Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City).

The MLS All Stars will take on German champions Bayern Munich on Aug. 6 from Providence Park in Portland, Ore.

Here’s a look at the 2014 All Star Game Fan XI:

GOALKEEPER: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC – AT&T/EA SPORTS “More than a Vote” Challenge winner)

————

What do you think of this year’s Fan XI? Surprised that Defoe wasn’t voted in? Think that the eight USMNT players could start the All Star game?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I look forward to seeing julian Green play for Bayern! he was just listed on their official first team roster yesterday and I would be shocked if he doesn’t see the field in his home country, Bayern is trying to establish US roots and trotting out the World cup goal-scoring American against his teammates will boost US interest ten-fold. Secondly, it could be a great chance for Julian to show he deserves significant minutes.

    Reply
  2. Considering how many USMNT players are on this starting XI and how recently they all played together, this MLS All Star team may be able to play with greater cohesion than we are used to seeing from an All Star team. They may actually pretty well.

    Reply
  3. Are we just going to ignore Deuce’s derp face in that picture? Looks like he’s holding a fire ball and wants to lick it.

    Reply
  4. Shoot, forget the All-Star game…

    That picture is AMAZING!!!!

    Is Deuce so bad-xxx, that he can conjure fire in the palm of his hands after a goal???

    Of course he can.

    Reply
    • No, Chad Marshall should have been in over Gonzalez but it is a popularity contest so Gonzalez got the nod

      Reply
      • Marshall is the best value in MLS
        And
        He should win defender of the year….again.

    • Yeah, it is a pretty solid squad. Considering Munich is practically all German national team players and MLS all stars is practically all USMNT players, we are pretty much seeing the group stage game again. We didn’t even have to set a friendly date.

      Reply
    • I’d take Keane over Martins. Donovan and Henry would spend all game getting in each other’s way. They’re too similar.

      Who would play leftback? I guess you could toss Zusi at RB and move Yedlin to left.

      Reply
      • “Who would play leftback? I guess you could toss Zusi at RB and move Yedlin to left.”

        Neither. This is not the starting 11, just the 11 most popular players that the fans picked. Porter and Garber will round out the actual game day squad which, i’m sure will include an actual RB and LB

Leave a Comment