CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, November 26, 2008) – LA Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena today unveiled the 19-man roster that will travel to New Zealand ahead of the friendly against the Oceania All-Stars on December 6.
That game, which will be played at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel in America as well as Sky Sports in New Zealand.
Nineteen players, including one guest player, will depart for Auckland on Monday, December 1 before returning to the United States on Sunday, December 7.
The squad will hold three training sessions in Auckland ahead of the game against the Oceania All-Stars, who are led by 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, a native of New Caledonia.
The Galaxy’s complete travel squad for this match is:
Goalkeepers (2): Josh Saunders and Josh Wicks.
Defenders (7): Sean Franklin, Michael Gavin, Leonard Griffin*, Chris Klein, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts and Julian Valentin
Midfielders (6): Ely Allen, David Beckham, Eddie Lewis, Brandon McDonald, Mike Muñoz and Josh Tudela.
Forward (4): Tristan Bowen, Alan Gordon, Bryan Jordan and Jovan Kirovski.
* – Guest Player
Goalkeeper Steve Cronin will remain in Los Angeles to undergo surgery to remove a plate that was inserted to his right hand in a surgical procedure earlier this year. Cronin originally injured his hand in a game against the New England Revolution on August 30.
In addition to Cronin, Charles Alamo, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan and Ante Jazic will remain in the area to rest and receive treatment.
Jeremy Barlow, Joe Franchino and Alvaro Pires have been waived and will be available in this afternoon’s MLS Waiver Draft, while Vardan Adzemian, Eduardo Dominguez and Israel Sesay will not travel for the game.