The LA Galaxy have dominated the first half of the MLS regular season, and it is no surprise that this success is reflected in the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star First XI, which MLSsoccer.com announced on Tuesday.
WATCH: MLSsoccer.com reveals MLS All-Star First XI
MORE: Meet the MLS All-Star First XI
Galaxy manager Bruce Arena will be joined by a league-high four members from his club on July 28 in Houston, where the MLS All-Stars will face legendary English club Manchester United in the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game (ESPN2 and Telefutura at 7:30 p.m. CT).
Among the four Galaxy players are All-Star debutant Omar Gonzalez and Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, who has earned the All-Star nod in each of his 10 seasons in the league.
The list of 11 players, who captured the most votes among their peers, media, coaches/GMS, and fans, will join 12 other players, including 10 coach’s picks and two commissioner’s selections, which are set to be announced on Monday, July 19 on MLSsoccer.com (1 p.m. ET). Given the positions played by the First XI, the remainder of the selections will likely feature fullbacks, defensive midfielders, and additional strikers.
Arena and assistant Dominic Kinnear of the Houston Dynamo will then pick their starting lineup against Manchester United from this final 23-man roster.
Galaxy and Toronto FC players will likely see limited time due to CONCACAF Champions League commitments involving their clubs the day before the All-Star Game. Members of the Seattle Sounders will not be available for selection due to their CONCACAF Champions League match, which takes place on the same day as the All-Star event.
It was announced on Monday that more than 45,000 tickets have been sold for Houston's first-ever All-Star Game. The match also marks the first time that Manchester United have played in Houston. The Red Devils arrived in Chicago on Monday and will be making stops in Toronto (vs. Celtic FC), Philadelphia (vs. Union), and Kansas City (vs. Wizards) before heading to Texas.
Below is the list of First XI players as selected by fans (25 percent), media (25 percent), players (25 percent) and MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent).
GOALKEEPER (1): Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy)
DEFENDERS (3): Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (2): Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
GALLERY: Check out the MLS All-Star First XI
