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Beckham is coming to town

Filed under: Soccer

David Beckham--he of the dreamy looks, bum ankle, and bending free kicks--is apparently making a movie with Snoop Dogg. He is also coming to Minnesota to play in the inaugural Copa Minnesota on November 11 at the Metrodome. Becks' Los Angeles Galaxy squad will take on the Minnesota Thunder at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15.

Beckham is, of course, the main draw (barring a Posh appearance), but there are other reasons to attend this match. Enigmatic U.S. player of the year Landon Donovan is on the roster--and even on a bad day he's still among the best players ever to suit up for this country. And retiring midfield dynamo Cobi Jones--one of the most beloved players in the history of the men's national team--could be playing his last game on U.S. soil. (The Beckham circus will be traveling to Australia and New Zealand later this month.)

As for the Thunder, they will be fielding a sort of First Division all-star squad. Headlining the roster are league MVP Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle Sounders) and defender of the year David Hayes (Atlanta Silverbacks). Also back in blue will be former Thunder midfielder Johnny Menyongar (Rochester Raging Rhinos) and nimble-footed New Zealand target man Nate Knox (Seattle Sounders). Among the players returning from last season's Thunder squad will be forward Aaron Paye and defender Kevin Friedland.

Here's the announced rosters:

Minnesota Thunder:

GOALKEEPERS: Nic Platter (Thunder), Lance Friesz (LA Galaxy)

DEFENDERS: Kenney Bertz (Rochester Rhinos), Alejandro De La Mora (Thunder), Kevin Friedland (Thunder), David Hayes (Atlanta Silverbacks), Brian Pederson (Thunder), Derek Smith (Thunder)

MIDFIELDERS: Hugo Alcarez-Cuellar (Seattle Sounders), Jeremiah Bass (Thunder), Sasha Gotsmanov (Thunder), Craig Mallace (Thunder), Dayton O’Brien (Atlanta Silverbacks), Dale Weiler (Thunder)

FORWARDS: Leo Gibson (Thunder), Nathan Knox (Seattle Sounders), Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle Sounders), Johnny Menyongar (Rochester Rhinos), Aaron Paye (Thunder)

Los Angeles Galaxy:

GOALKEEPERS: Joe Cannon, Steve Cronin

DEFENDERS: Chris Albright, Ty Harden, Ante Jazic, Chris Klein, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts, Kyle Veris

MIDFIELDERS: David Beckham, Kelly Gray, Kevin Harmse, Cobi Jones, Kyle Martino, Josh Tudela, Peter Vagenas

FORWARDS: Edson Buddle, Mike Caso, Landon Donovan, Carlos Pavon, Israel Sesey

Posted by Paul Demko at November 1, 2007 5:15 PM

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