Atlanta sure knows how to GOTV. — Shawn Collins (@shawncollins) June 25, 2018 Not everyone was pleased with Atlanta United’s dominance in the voting, though. When only 5 of the 23 teams are represented.... — Michael Slezak 🇩🇪🏆 (@Michael_Slezak1) June 25, 2018 I can't wait to watch @juventusfcen beat Atlanta United on their own turf. https://t.co/PEU8EOf4FW — Punky Brewster's BFF (@MsBrooke_Lynn) June 25, 2018 the MLS fan starting xi is basically all atlanta united so congratulations atl, you played yourself, you're just gonna be watching your own home team? — katherine (@kv_tucker) June 25, 2018 Including one fan who remembers one of the Five Stripes getting injured in last year’s all-star game.<doc-sep>Today, MLS announced the 2018 All-Star Fan XI, and to the surprise of no one, Atlanta United has the largest contingent of players, with six players voted in. The gameday roster for the All-Star game will consist of 24 players, and include all the players in the fan’s XI, two Commissioner’s Picks, and 11 other players selected by Tata Martino, who was named the All-Star head coach after leading Atlanta United to the most points in MLS. Those United players named to the fan-selected roster include men’s national team regular Brad Guzan, who leads MLS goalies in wins so far this year and earns his 2nd All-Star selection. Defensive stalwart and captain Michael Parkhurst picks up his sixth selection after starting all but one game for the Five Stripes this season. Midfielders Miguel Almiron, Darlington Nagbe and Ezequiel Barco were all selected, with the latter two making an instant impact in their first season in Atlanta while Almiron continues to excel in MLS. Rounding out the selections from the Five Stripes is none other than Josef Martinez, the league’s leading goal scorer, with his first selection. The MLS All-Star Team will take on Italian powerhouse Juventus in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m.<doc-sep>“It’s more eyeballs,” he said. “It’s more excitement. There are cool things to do in the days leading up to the game. You get shuttled around here, there and everywhere. You get to meet the best players in the league and talk to them a little bit off the field. That’s cool, as well.” From 1996-2002, the game was similar to other pro sports leagues in the U.S. and Canada with an East vs. West format. It also tried a game featuring U.S. players in MLS vs. the rest of the world’s players in MLS in 1998. The league then set up the MLS All-Stars vs. Mexican powerhouse Chivas in 2003. Carlos Bocanegra, who is now Atlanta United’s technical director, was in the starting 11 for MLS. The league tried to set up the All-Stars against Real Madrid in 2004, but that deal didn’t work out, so the game was again East vs. West. In 2005, Bocanegra was in the Fulham lineup for the game against the All-Stars. It was the last All-Star game in which the fans were able to pick the starting 11. The game soon started to transition into a bigger spectacle with a new format. The league switched to the fans picking 11 players who will be part of the roster for the 2006 game because the All-Stars were facing Premier League powerhouse Chelsea and the league wanted to ensure a balanced roster and competitive game. “The game itself is always an awesome opportunity,” Parkhurst said. “The teams they bring in now are much better than the first couple of games when we played Fulham and Celtic. They are good teams but not the the world-beaters like we play now. The worst thing about the All-Star game is having to play defense. Put seven attackers on the field, maybe eight, and two defenders and a goalie. Hopefully, we can hold them at bay.” It’s not unusual in professional sports for a team to dominate spots on All-Star roster. In Major League Baseball, four of nine American League slots were filled by Red Sox players and five of eight National League slots featured Cubs in 2016. In 2015, four of nine starters were Royals. In 2011, four of nine were Yankees. In the NHL, five of six players voted into the game were Blackhawks. That format has remained with the All-Stars playing: 2007: MLS 2, Celtic FC 0 in Commerce City, Colo. 2008: MLS 3, West Ham United FC 2 in Toronto. 2009: MLS 1, Everton FC 1 (Everton 4-3 pen) in (Sandy, Utah. 2010: Manchester United FC 5, MLS 2 in Houston. 2011: Manchester United FC 4, MLS 0 in Harrison, N.J. 2012: MLS 3, Chelsea FC 2 in Chester, Pa. 2013: AS Roma 3, MLS 1 in Kansas City, Kan. 2014: MLS 2, Bayern Munich 1 in Portland, Ore. 2015: MLS 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1 in Commerce City, Colo. 2016: Arsenal 2, MLS 1 in San Jose, Calif. 2017: MLS 1, Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid 2-4 pen) in Chicago.<doc-sep>Atlanta United left fans feeling frustrated after a 1-1 draw against the visiting Portland Timbers Sunday afternoon, having now won just one home game since April 28. Tata Martino deployed his side in a 4-2-3-1 once again, and with Tito Villalba returning to form, this looks like a formation Atlanta will stick with for the forseeable future. Man of the Match: Julian Gressel Gressel scored Atlanta’s only goal of the match on a short range volleyed effort that the German ABSOLUTELY WALLOPED. It’s a shame the strike itself didn’t get more attention because, to be honest, all he had to do was tap it into an empty net with the Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella scrambling. GK: Brad Guzan - 7.17 RB: Franco Escobar - 6.64 CB: Michael Parkhurst - 7.09 CB: Leandro Gonzalez Pirez - 6.89 LB: Mikey Ambrose - 6.16 CM: Jeff Larentowicz - 6.69 CM: Darlington Nagbe - 6.33 (repeating of course) RW: Julian Gressel - 7.42 (MOTM) CAM: Miguel Almiron - 6.87 LW: Ezequiel Barco - 6.30 ST: Josef Martinez - 6.17 SUB: Tito Villalba - 7.10 SUB: Sal Zizzo - 5.13 SUB: Kevin Kratz: 5.40<doc-sep>
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and six Atlanta United players headlined the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI selections on Monday. Ibrahimovic, who joined LA Galaxy from Manchester United in March, has made a splash in Major League Soccer, scoring seven goals in 11 appearances. And now the former Juventus man will get the chance to play against the Italians in the MLS All-Star Game in Atlanta. Meanwhile, hosts Atlanta will be well-represented at their home stadium, with Josef Martínez, Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco, Michael Parkhurst, Darlington Nagbe and Brad Guzan all being selected by the fans to participate in the game. Joining those seven will be a host of veterans with vast World Cup experience. Your votes. Your squad. Meet the Fan XI for the 2018 #MLSAllStar Game pres. by @Target! pic.twitter.com/DNd4LvWDig — Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 25, 2018 That group includes LAFC and Belgium defender Laurent Ciman, Sporting Kansas City and United States midfielder Graham Zusi, and LAFC forward Carlos Vela, who makes the team as the "More Than a Vote" Challenge winner. The "More Than a Vote" Challenge tabulates the number of goals fans score with MLS players in the popular video game FIFA 18. Using that criteria, Vela outscored Ibrahimovic, Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC), and Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC). Reigning MLS MVP Diego Valeri rounds out the Fan XI, marking the fifth time the Argentina playmaker has been selected for the game. The complete 24-man All-Star roster will be released at a later date. Of the 13 spots still up for grabs, MLS commissioner Don Garber will select two players and All-Star manager Gerard Martino will choose the remaining 11. Martino, who coaches Atlanta United, will also select the team's starting XI on gameday. The 2018 MLS All-Star Game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN.