The stage is set for the most competitive All-Star game in American professional sports: Rosters for 2006 MLS All-Star Game (Saturday, Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET, Live on ESPN from TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, Ill.) were finalized today. For the MLS All-Stars, 21 players had previously been announced via the "First XI" voting process and selections made by All-Star Coach Peter Nowak of D.C. United and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. The final 11 spots were selected by the voting process and the coach's decision. In the voting process, fans, media, players and coaches/general managers each comprised an equal share of the final tally.
Due to injury, Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan (hamstring strain) and Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni (knee sprain), will not be available to play in the game. Coach Nowak replaced those two players on the 18-man game-day roster with midfielder Ricardo Clark and defender Eddie Robinson, both of the Houston Dynamo. This is the first All-Star selection for both players, and brief bios of each player follow the Chelsea FC roster.
Two-time defending English Premier League champions Chelsea FC brings an impressive 23-man roster that includes 11 players who represented their respective countries at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany this summer.
MLS Inactive Roster (14)
Jose Burciaga (Kansas City Wizards), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Facundo Erpen (D.C. United), Juan Pablo Garcia (Chivas USA), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Brian Mullan (Houston Dynamo), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Ante Razov (Chivas USA), Matt Reis (New England Revolution), Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Greg Vanney (FC Dallas).
