Sebastian Giovinco, Kei Kamara Among Final 23 MLS All-Stars

Toronto FC supporters may now rest easy: Sebastian Giovinco is on the MLS All-Star Team. The Italian Designated Player who took the league by storm may have been snubbed by the fans and MLS Commissioner Don Garber (that is going to be an ugly meeting if he wins the league’s Most Valuable Player award). On Saturday Giovinco joined 22 other players as part of the final MLS All-Star Team roster that will play Tottenham Hotspur at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado (July 29th, 9pm EST Fox Sports 1, TSN, UniMas).

More from Columbus Crew

After the initial thirteen names were announced on Monday before the United States Men’s National Team match against Panama, there were certainly some upset supporters in Major League Soccer. With players like Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard (two players had never played an MLS match prior to last Monday) being selected to the squad and players like Giovinco and Kamara (two of the league’s top goalscorers) being omitted there were questions as to how much value the league placed on the work of the players.

While adding the likes of Giovinco and Kamara will satiate some fans, there are still some perceived glaring omissions. Crew SC supporters will contend that Ethan Finlay (5 goals, 11 assists) should have a spot on the 23-man roster. D.C. United supporters would also contend that being the top team in the Eastern Conference merits at least one All-Star. New York Red Bulls supporters could also make a case for Kemar Lawrence, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Dax McCarty. Sounders FC supporters may feel a bit hard done by with Stefan Frei not making the trip to Commerce City.

Drew Moor of the Colorado Rapids and Tony Beltran of Real Salt Lake will raise some eyebrows given their team’s positions in the standings (the Rapids are in last while RSL sit in seventh in the Western Conference). But Moor has been a part of a Rapids side that has allowed just 19 goals (second lowest in the league). Beltran meanwhile has been a steadying force for an RSL side that is currently in transition.

The good news is for all supporters is that this is not likely the final roster. Between now and July 29th players will get injured, teams will use their sway to have players sit out, and there may be a transfer move or two. So players like Finlay, Wright-Phillips, or Frei might yet still get to play.

Here is the full list of players (courtesy of Soccer By Ives🙂

GOALKEEPER: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), David Ousted (Vancouver Whitecaps).

DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting KC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), DeMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Chris Tierney (New England Revolution), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders), Drew Moor (Colorado Rapids), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake).

MIDFIELDERS: Kaka (Orlando City SC), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy), Frank Lampard (New York City FC), Fabian Castillo (FC Dallas).

FORWARDS: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), David Villa (New York City FC), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew).

Next: Sebastian Giovinco Once Again Inspires Toronto FC To Victory

Home/Columbus Crew