With the return of Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane from international tournaments, the LA Galaxy are banking on them to help turn things around in MLS play.
The LA Galaxy are winless in their last seven MLS matches as they have come away with five draws and two losses. The team has not been in the best of form as of late and the recent international tournaments could be to blame. Forwards, Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes, have missed the past five games due to tournaments with their national teams.
Keane was playing in France for the European Championships with the Republic of Ireland. He was mostly an unused substitute for his national team after only appearing in two games. Zardes on the other hand was helping the United States reach the semi-finals of the Copa America as they finished the tournament in fourth place. He started every match for his team and was a vital part of their success.
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Both of these players represented their teams well on the national stage but with them being away from the Galaxy for over a month, LA struggled to find results. Gyasi and Robbie are both big time players for their club and have both scored four goals this MLS season which is tied for third best on the team. Their scoring threat should immediately impact Los Angeles.
Even without these two star players, the Galaxy still have plenty of talent on their roster. They have enough skill on their first team to be able to get a win in MLS play over lesser opponents but they haven’t been able to get that done. With a combination of poor defending, allowing late game goals, and the lack of an offensive threat have completely devastated the team as of late.
Galaxy manager, Bruce Arena, said that “Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes “should be” available for Monday’s Fourth of July match with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.” (LAGalaxy.com) Both players have returned to training with the club for the first time since returning from international play. Arena wanted to give them some rest because of the tough schedule that they had in their international tournaments.
Before the two players left to play for their respective counties, the Galaxy were unbeaten in nine straight matches and had their best stretch of this MLS season. They had four wins and five draws before Gyasi and Robbie left for international play. Los Angeles should be looking to get back to the form they had before their stars left to the Copa America and the European Championship.
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Even though the LA Galaxy have been struggling lately, I would expect for them to get a win with Zardes and Keane back in the starting XI. These are two highly impactful players who make their presence known on the pitch with their great play. It should not take long for the two players to fit back into the rhythm of things with their club because they have each been there for over three years.