Boehm: The MLS All-Star XI to beat Juventus

We’re now barely one month out from the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, and now that All-Stars coach Tata Martino’s full roster has dropped, it’s not too early to plot out some of his best options for the big showcase at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s my take on the best lineup to give Juventus hell in the ATL.

Note: It’s fun to bat around aggressive formations for an exhibition like the ASG, especially when they help shoehorn more attacking and creative players into the XI, and I’d love to see Tata roll out one of the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 looks he’s tried with Atlanta United this season.

But the hard reality is that the All-Stars get just a couple of training sessions together and keeping it simple is a must. So I’m using the sturdy 4-2-3-1 shape that most MLS teams prefer.

Goalkeeper

Columbus Crew SC's Zack Steffen | USA Today Sports Images

Zack Steffen is currently on the mend from minor knee surgery – he should be back soon – so for now Atlanta’s own Brad Guzan is the safe and easy choice in the nets.

Defense

LAFC's Laurent Ciman | USA Today Sports Images

A 4-2-3-1 makes things easier for the back four, and matches up fairly well to the 4-3-3 that it appears Juve are most likely to feature in their upcoming season. Michael Parkhurst and Laurent Ciman look like the most effective center-back pairing on offer; ATLUTD’s cerebral veteran is well-suited to cover for Ciman’s front-foot tendency to step up and get stuck in.

Francisco Calvo is the only defender who has spent more than marginal time at left back, so he starts on that corner, while RBNY’s Michael Murillo deserves a shot on the right side.

Intriguingly, I’ve been told that Martino plans to use Vancouver’s Alphonso Davies and Orlando City’s Yoshi Yotun as defenders. Either would make useful fullbacks and Yotun may well get the nod ahead of Calvo, though Davies looks more like an impact sub option. Quickness and composure will be needed to handle talented Juve wide men like Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa.

Midfield

Montreal Impact winger Ignacio Piatti | USA Today Sports Images

This is probably the most talent-rich All-Star roster in MLS history. Yet they’re still going to have to do some defending against opponents boasting world-class quality like Paulo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic and Emre Can, so some steel and savvy is needed in deep midfield.

A duo of Sporting KC’s midfield metronome Ilie and NYCFC terrier Alex Ring might not be the biggest names, but they can do the dirty work and thus narrowly edge out Jonathan dos Santos and Wilfried Zahibo.

The decisions start to really get knotty in the attacking band of three. ATL hero Miguel Almiron makes sense as the central playmaker, and given his proclivity for drifting towards the left to find pockets of space, I’m putting Montreal maestro Ignacio Piatti out in his usual spot on the left flank to see what kind of problems that duo can cause with their movement and interchange. David Villa is a tempting option there as well, as is Sebastian Giovinco, but they’ll get the chance to change the game off the bench.

LAFC’s Carlos Vela has had a spectacular first half-season in MLS and deserves the chance to do his thing along the right channel. Alberth Elis offers a pacier, more direct option there, and is enjoying a career year, making this a tough call – ultimately, his skillset makes him a more tempting supersub.

Forward

Atlanta United's Josef Martinez | USA Today Sports Images

Here’s my toughest call of all: The mighty Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Golden Boot leader Josef Martinez or all-time MLS crack Bradley Wright-Phillips in the No. 9 role?

In MLS, Ibra has wreaked the most havoc as a substitute, so he’s penciled in for a second-half cameo. And while BWP has more than earned the honor of lining up in this illustrious XI, the relentless Martinez gets the nod on home soil against a Serie A foe he will remember from his Torino days.

What do you think: Can this team produce the necessary fireworks at The Benz? Share your XI in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter.

Full 2018 MLS All-Star roster

^ Fan XI selection
* Gerardo “Tata” Martino selection
# Commissioner Don Garber selection