Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham and captain Landon Donovan will miss the team's international friendly against Tottenham Hotspur but will appear in the 2012 MLS All-Star Game.
The friendly will be played at the Home Depot Center on July 24 and the MLS All-Star Game will be played at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. on July 25. Beckham and Donovan were chosen by fans to be in the All-Star First XI. MLS All-Star coach Ben Olsen also selected both players for his gameday roster against Chelsea. Donovan has been selected to an MLS record 12 All-Star Games while Beckham's appearance will be his third.
It is clear that the scheduling of these events could have been better planned. As soon as the friendly was announced it was certain that any Galaxy players selected to the MLS All-Star Game would have to pick one match or the other. I can't fault Beckham and Donovan for playing in the nationally televised All-Star Game over the regionally televised match against Tottenham. Without those two Designated Players available for the friendly, it means more minutes for younger players, which is not a bad thing either.
Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas has released the roster he will have available against the Galaxy:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer, Carlo Cudicini, Brad Friedel, Heurelho Gomes
Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Sebastien Bassong, Michael Dawson (captain), William Gallas, Younes Kaboul, Kyle Naughton, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Gareth Bale, David Bentley, Tom Carroll, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Jake Livermore, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andros Townsend, Rafael Van der Vaart
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane
Tottenham started their preseason tour with a 2-0 win over League One side Stevenage on July 18. Gylfi Sigurdsson made his debut for Spurs and scored. Yago Falque also scored for Tottenham in the match. Galaxy striker and Designated Player Robbie Keane was a long-time player for Tottenham and scored 121 goals for the English Premier League club. He spent some time this preseason training with his old club before going on loan to Aston Villa. After the friendly, our side will have little time to rest before an MLS match against FC Dallas on July 28.
More from Patrick Johnston:
Designated Players lead Galaxy past Chivas USA, 3-1
Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: L.A. looking to even 2012 SuperClasico
David Beckham has been great since Olympic snubSources:
Tottenham Hotspur announce roster ahead of upcoming friendly with the LA Galaxy
Additional information from LAGalaxy.com and Tottenham Hotspur.com
