Well, why not ask the question? The stars of yesteryear, with some current World Cup team members? Or a depleted MLS All Star team? Will there be any defense? What stunt will surpass last year's sports bra exhibition?
Who Will Win? A: MLS All Stars When I first heard about this game, I thought the national team would be the guys from the World Cup (like with JOB, Reyna, Sanneh...) I really don't think that the Nats will be able to pull off a win, even with LD and Beas.
Honestly, I don't think either side will try very hard, especially not on defense. The main objective of almost all the players should be to avoid injury. I'm sure some of the Americans on the MLS side (Twellman and Howard probably) will want to impress Arena so they might try hard.
I read somewhere today that the National team players are recieving $2000 for being chosen for the team plus an extra $2000 if they win the game. That may be incentive enough for them to put forth the effort for a victory.
That's right, $4,000 total if they win and a subscription to SoccerAmerica. MLS is probably offering something like $35 across the board though I haven't seen any firm figures. Seeing the way the returning USMNT players are tearing up MLS the past couple of weeks I've got to pick them to win by a couple of goals.
USMNT 5 MLS 4 An exciting, wide-open game ends with an 89th minute GW by Wolff. Ruiz, Twellman & Ralston all perform superbly. Meola is solid, but Sommer allows 3 of the four MLS goals. Donovan, McBride, Cobi & Wolff all play very well & show why they were named to the WC team. Pleasant surprises: Harkes, Lalas & Henderson. Of course, all of the above points are speculation, on my part. But they are capable of happening. One last prediction: 35,000, at least, for RFK!!
Ruiz won't score at all and Tony Meola gets revenge for Keller by knocking him on his arse. USMNT takes it all and schools the MLS boys, but mostly due to the fact that everyone has played with each other under this coach too. Whereas the MLS guys are good, but don't have the time together.
I say MLS Its really the MLS all-star game anyway. U.S. is a misnomer. THe "MLS" squad has more to play for and should win a close one. No one really cares who wins. It will be a goals galore. A Score feast. No one ever plays defense in all-star contests. The main thing tomorrow at RFK is not passing out from the oppressive 95 degree heat.
USA 7 MLS 4 Goals Donovan (USA) 9', 35', 50' Wolff (USA) 37' Beasely (USA) 73' McBride (USA) 17, 60' Twellman (MLS) 3', 20' Kreis (MLS) 43' Kovalenko (MLS) 28'
If it hadn't been for the HORRIBLE weather, perhaps my predictions could have come true. The second half, after the weather calmed down naturally, it was an entertaining game. Cobi's goal was beautiful and very reminiscent of the goal scored by McBride that beat Guatemala in a WCQ in RFK in Sept of 2000 (my FIRST cap with the USMNT). Chris Klein looked VERY, VERY good, as did Ralston. Didn't see Twellman, but with the field conditions & the weather, it's not a fair assessment of his abilities. Klein & Ralston definitely should get another opportunity with the Nats. Wish Wolff had been able to play & hope his injury is not serious.