The 2017 Major League Soccer All-Star Game is nearly set.
We know the date (Aug. 2), the opponent (Real Madrid) and the location (Solider Field in Chicago), but what’s still to be determined is who will take the field for Team MLS. Twenty-two players will be tasked to represent the league, with 11 coming via fan vote, two selected by Commissioner Don Garber and nine chosen by head coach Veljko Paunovic of the Chicago Fire.
With 22 teams in the league, each would average one player selected, although it’s obvious that some will have multiple and others none. Last year at Avaya Stadium, the Quakes had two players in Chris Wondolowski and David Bingham.
So who could represent the Earthquakes this season? Here are four players to keep an eye out for when voting comes around and a reason why they could make it:
CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI
Why he could be selected:
The Quakes’ captain has enjoyed a terrific start to 2017 – scoring or assisting on nine of the team’s 12 goals to date. He has already tallied five assists, just two shy of his 2012 career high, and it’s just a week or so into May. Wondolowski is the only player in all of MLS with at least four goals
and
five assists. Let that sink in for a second.
FLORIAN JUNGWIRTH
Why he could be selected:
The German defender/midfielder has certainly made a name for himself 10 games into his MLS career. Arriving with a burning desire to play in the United States, his enthusiasm and energy is overwhelmingly obvious. He was asked to temporarily fill in at center back while Harold Cummings recovered from offseason hernia surgery, but an additional long-term injury to the Panamanian has kept Jungwirth fully entrenched in the role. He has responded by playing all 900 minutes to date, anchoring the fourth best defense in MLS (1.00 per 90 min.) and contributing two goals, including a game-winner, and two assists on the offensive end. The savvy stalwart has also committed just one more foul (9) than he has drawn (8), earned three Team of the Week selections and ranks third among all defenders in the
Audi Player Index
.
ANIBAL GODOY
Why he could be selected:
When most people think of the Earthquakes, Wondolowski is usually the first name that comes to mind, but Anibal Godoy may in fact be the most influential player on the field for San Jose. The ‘Panamaniac’ has led the Quakes to a dazzling 17-10-15 record in his starts since arriving in the Bay Area, including a 4-2-3 record in 2017. For perspective, the club is 1-8-5 without him since his signing, and 0-1-0 this season. He was No. 1 in the league in the Audi Player Index through the first month of the season and has recorded two game-winning goals and an assist in addition to his stellar play defensively.
NICK LIMA
Why he could be selected:
The Rookie of the Year frontrunner has been a consistent contributor for the Earthquakes at right back, making eight starts and nine appearances through 10 games to date. He scored a crucial goal for San Jose in their Week 2 comeback victory over Vancouver and has often left on-lookers questioning his inexperience. He has established himself as one of the league’s more dangerous full backs going forward and has been an important piece of one of Major League Soccer’s stingiest defenses. There is also some precedent here, as both Brandon Vincent and Keegan Rosenberry were selected as rookies last season. MLSsoccer.com’s own Sam Stejskal is
also in agreement
that Lima should receive serious consideration.
