Admittedly, most exhibitions games aren't really about the backline. We want to see goals – and plenty of them. Still, manager Peter Vermes won't be trotting out a 0-5-5 formation at Sporting Park.
MLS released the list of players eligible for fan voting and opened the ballot box for the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on Thursday, and 31 defenders have been named to the list. But who gets your vote?
CAST YOUR BALLOT!
Will it be the reigning Defender of the Year Matt Besler who leads the defense in his hometown and home stadium? What about his predecesor out in Los Angeles, Omar Gonzalez? Maybe both should start since Jurgen Klinsmann's decided they're the US national team's best bet for the time being.
Then again, MLS is all about diversity and the New York Red Bulls' Colombian center back Jámison Olave certainly has an argument for inclusion. Young-Pyo Lee in Vancouver and the Montreal Impact's Matteo Ferrari also have compelling cases. New England Revolution duo Andrew Farrell and Jose Goncalves have been nails all year as well.
Whoever you choose, don’t forget that All-Star voting is open on MLSsoccer.com. The time to make your voice heard is, well, now. Fans can also vote by sending a player’s last name via text message to 22442. Twitter voting will occur later this month.
The 10 players with the highest combined votes from these three voting methods, plus one decided via the FIFA Ultimate Team Tournament, will be named to the Fan XI.
MLS ALL-STAR DEFENDER CANDIDATES (31):
CHICAGO FIRE (2): Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry
CHIVAS USA (2):Mario de Luna, Bobby Burling
COLUMBUS CREW (2):Chad Marshall, Josh Williams
COLORADO RAPIDS (1):Drew Moor
FC DALLAS (1):Jackson
HOUSTON DYNAMO (1): Kofi Sarkodie
LA GALAXY (2):Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzalez
MONTREAL IMPACT (1): Matteo Ferrari
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (2):Andrew Farrell, Jose Goncalves
NEW YORK RED BULLS (1): Jamison Olave
PHILADELPHIA UNION (2): Jeff Parke, Sheanon Williams
PORTLAND TIMBERS (1): Michael Harrington
REAL SALT LAKE (2):Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran
SEATTLE SOUNDERS (2): Djimi Traore, DeAndre Yedlin
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (2):Victor Bernardez, Justin Morrow
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (2):Aurélien Collin, Matt Besler
TORONTO FC (1): Jeremy Hall
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (2): Andy O'Brien, Young-Pyo Lee
