So just who is playing in the July 4 South American all-stars verses a Rest of the World team at the exhibition game?
Even the game organizers are still trying to figure that one out it appears.
And it’s not just Blanco who is either not coming or remains a question mark. For instance, Brazilian great Roberto Carlos is still listed as participating on the Coliseum Web site as I write this. But he’s not named among those playing in a press release I received Monday. Hmmm.
For what it’s worth, here’s the (unedited) list of the players on that latest press release:
South American All-Stars
1. Lionel Messi, NT Argentina – FC Barcelona
2. Andres D’Alessandro, NT Argentina – Internacional
3. Alexis Alejandro Snchez Barb, NT Chile – Udinese
4. Fabin Orellana, NT Chile – Udinese
5. Gary Medel, NT Chile – Universidad Catlica
6. Jose Cevallos, NT Ecuador – LDU Quito
7. Walter Ayovi, NT Ecuador – Monterrey
8. Joffre Guerron, NT Ecuador – Getafe
9. Juan Arango, NT Venezuela – Real Mallorca
10. Diego Lugano, NT Uruguay – Fenerbahce
11. David Quiroz, NT Ecuador -Emelec
12. Jefferson Montero, NT Ecuador – Villareal
13. Pedro Quiones , NT Ecuador – Santos Laguna
14. Cristian Bentez, NT Ecuador – Santos Laguna
15. Paolo Montero , NT Uruguay – Pearol
Rest of the World All-Stars
1. Jared Borgetti, NT Mexico- CD Guadalajara
2. Francisco “Paco” Palencia, NT Mexico, UNAM
3. Marco Materazzi, NT Italy – Inter
4. Mauro Camoranessi, NT Italy – Juventus
5. Patrick Vieira, NT France – Inter
6. Stefano Fiore, NT Italy – Mantova
7. Edgard Davis, NT Netherlands – Ajax
8. Mariano Andrs Perna -NT Argentina – Atletico de Madrid
9. Jos Antonio “Perla” Reyes, NT Spain – Benfica de Portugal.
10. Giourkas Seitaridis, NT Greece – Atltico Madrid
11. Fernando Couto, NT Portugal – Parma
12. Pedro Migel Carreiro “Pauleta”, NT Portugal – Paris-Saint Germain
13. Ivan Helguera, NT Spain- Valencia CF
14. Fernando Morientes, NT Spain- Valencia
15. Jozy Altidore, NT United States – Villareal (Xerex)
The game begins at 5 p.m. and is followed by a one-hour-long fireworks show, BTW.
Still, not an auspicious start to organizing what is supposed to be an annual event. And just how big the crowd will be given the Galaxy game that same night and other major friendlies involving the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan scheduled for Southern California this summer remains to be seen.
“We’re not expecting a sellout by any means or anything close to it,” said Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch.
Updated:
I received a response to the column from Fire VP of Communications Becky Carroll. Here is her (edited) response:
“Regarding Mr. Blanco’s commitment to the upcoming game at the LA Coliseum…there was never a commitment or promise from either him (or the Fire) to participate in the July 4 match. As you know, the Fire has a regularly scheduled game that day against the Colorado Rapids, which has been on our schedule for the last several months. The only games that Mr. Blanco may play outside of the MLS at this point would be as a member of the Mexican national team.”
And yeah, I know D’Alessandro plays for Brazil’s Internacional and not Italy’s Inter. I just didn’t write that in the column.
