German World Cup Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nemanja Nikolic give local representation to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game as the Chicago Fire stars are among four first-year MLS playersnamed to the MLS All-Stars’ Fan XI. The all-stars will face Spanish club Real Madrid in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game Aug. 2 at Soldier Field.
The other two first-year MLS players are Greg Garza and MiguelAlmiron of Atlanta United.
Garza is among five Americans on the team along with Tim Howard, Graham Zusi, DaMarcus Beasley andMichael Bradley. He is the only of the five who has not played in World Cup 2018 qualifying this year. Zusi and Beasley will be making their fifth All-Star Game appearances, the mostof any players in the Fan XI.
The All-Star game-day roster will consist of 24 players: the 11 fan picks, two Commissioner’s picks and 11 players selected by All-Star coachVeljko Paunovic, the Fire head coach.
2017 MLS All-Star Fan XI:
Goalkeeper: Tim Howard (ColoradoRapids).
Defenders: Greg Garza (Atlanta United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo).
Midfielders: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Chicago Fire),Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Kaka (Orlando City), Michael Bradley(Toronto FC).
Forwards: David Villa (New York City FC), Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago Fire), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC– EA Sports “More Than a Vote” Challenge).