The 18 players who will go up against Chelsea at PPL Park in the MLS All-Star Game on July 25 are set, and the tops of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference tables are well represented.
D.C. United and MLS All-Star coach Ben Olsen opted to select all 11 players voted into the First XI by the fans while adding his own in-form attacker Chris Pontius; Seattle Sounders standouts Osvaldo Alonso and Eddie Johnson; Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
Comissioner Don Garber selected last remaining MLS original Ramiro Corrales and Philadelphia Union centerback Carlos Valdes with his two picks to round out the squad. Valdes will be the lone Union player representing the game's host team. The two teams leading the two respective conferences — Supporters' Shield race leading San Jose and Sporting Kansas City — are tied for fielding the most All-Stars with three apiece.
Fourteen other players will earn All-Star distinction per the current collective bargaining agreement, but only the following 18 (barring injury or other reasons for absence) will make the gameday roster that will take on Chelsea (and keep in mind the First XI is not automatically Olsen's starting lineup):
MLS ALL-STAR GAME MATCHDAY ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City), Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS: Steve Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union), Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose Earthquakes)
MIDFIELDERS: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS: Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
What do you think of the squad? Think MLS will take down Chelsea? Who are the biggest snubs? Who should Olsen start against the UEFA Champions League winners?
Share your thoughts below.