Landon Donovan and reigning league most valuable player Guillermo Barros Schelotto highlighted the First XI players named Monday to play in the annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game, but no Real Salt Lake players were voted onto the team that will play Everton FC of the English Premier League in the game at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29.
Schelotto was by far the most popular choice among the fans, players, coaches and media members who voted for the First XI. The star midfielder for the Columbus Crew was followed by Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy and fellow striker Conor Casey of the Colorado Rapids. Casey was among seven players named to the team for the first time, along with goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielder Freddie Ljungberg of the expansion Seattle Sounders, among others.
Only one RSL player -- retired defender Eddie Pope -- has ever played in an MLS All-Star Game, but RSL is certain to be represented when the final seven players are chosen next week. All-Star coach Dominic Kinnear of the Houston Dynamo will choose five of those players, while league commissioner Don Garber will choose the other two. One of them could be superstar David Beckham, even though he has not played for the Galaxy yet this season while on loan to AC Milan in Italy.
The first 11 players
Pos. Player Team
F Landon Donovan Los Angeles Galaxy
F Conor Casey* Colorado Rapids
M Guillermo Barros Schelotto Columbus Crew
M Shalrie Joseph New England Revolution
M Freddie Ljungberg* Seattle Sounders
M Stuart Holden* Houston Dynamo
M Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FC
D Chad Marshall* Columbus Crew
D Geoff Cameron* Houston Dynamo
D Wilman Conde* Chicago Fire
GK Kasey Keller* Seattle Sounders
* - indicates first-time All-Star selection
MLS All-Stars vs. Everton FC
At Rio Tinto Stadium, July 29, 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2 / Galavision
