The good news about All-Star games in any sport is that players get a chance to go against the best players in their league or sport.
The bad news about All-Star games is players have to play. Therefore, as what happened to Atlanta United’s Greg Garza in last year’s game in Chicago, they risk injury. Garza suffered a shoulder injury in the first few minutes of the game against Real Madrid.
When it was announced that Atlanta and Atlanta United would host this year’s MLS All-Star game against Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 1, some Atlanta United supporters took to social media to urge their fellow Five Stripe fans to vote Toronto’s players into the All-Star roster.
Why?
In addition to the risk of injury, or just plain fatigue, Atlanta United will host Toronto on Aug. 4, three days after the All-Star game.
Better that Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez are tired, rather than Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron and Darlington Nagbe.
Well, the plea didn’t work.
Atlanta United players were dominating the voting results released June 15 by the league. The polls have closed, and the fans' choices are scheduled to be announced soon. Toronto didn't have a single player among the top five at any position group. Atlanta United had eight.
OK, but those not wanting to see Atlanta United players in the game still had hope that Gerardo Martino, who will manage the MLS All-Stars, would load the roster with Toronto players when he makes his selections.
That’s not going to happen.
Martino said Friday that he hasn’t begun to think about his selections for the roster. Though amused by the idea of choosing a lot of Toronto players, he said he won’t do so.
“We will try to make the most fair team possible,” he said. “There will be enough rotations for everyone, not just Atlanta players.”
About the Author
