Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Mesut Özil among those that will be on display at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 16
CARSON, Calif. – Ahead of next week’s game between the LA Galaxy and Real Madrid at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Real Madrid announced on Friday the roster they’ll be using in the Herbalife World Football Challenge. Head coach Jose Mourinho, the reigning FIFA Coach of the Year, returns to Southern California with a roster highlighted by former FIFA World Player of the Year winners Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, five members of Spain’s 2010 FIFA World Cup winning squad and a host of international stars. Madrid, who arrive in Los Angeles on July 11, will also travel with former Madrid legends Emilio Butragueño, the club’s Director of Institutional Relations, and Zinedine Zidane, who was recently named a Director for the club.
The first game of the Herbalife World Football Challenge for both sides, the Galaxy and Real Madrid will meet in one of the most anticipated international friendlies of the year at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, July 16. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
BUY TICKETS: Galaxy vs Real Madrid
This will be the third time that the Galaxy and Real Madrid play and the second time in as many years. In 2005, Madrid defeated the Galaxy 2-0 before a capacity crowd at The Home Depot Center and in 2010, the sides met in front of nearly 90,000 at the Rose Bowl. The Galaxy led 2-0 at halftime of that game behind goals from Todd Dunivant and Landon Donovan before Madrid came back to earn a 3-2 win.
Madrid will be led by forward Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year winner and last year’s La Liga goal scoring champion. Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, last year became the first player in the history of the Spanish league to score more than 40 goals in a season (41). One of the most recognizable players in the world, Ronaldo is one of four Portuguese players on the squad along with defenders Ricardo Carvalho, recent signing Fabio Coentrão and Pepe.
After missing last year’s game against the Galaxy because of a knee injury, 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaká is back to full health and ready to face the Galaxy for the first time in his career. Also facing Bruce Arena’s team for the first time is German playmaker Mesut Özil, who shined in the World Cup in 2010 and signed with Madrid shortly after last year’s friendly at the Rose Bowl. They will be joined by fellow German international Sami Khedira and Turkish international Nuri Sahin, who signed with Madrid in May after helping Borussia Dortmund win the German Bundesliga title.
The roster also features goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defenders Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeola and midfielder Xabi Alonso, all of whom were part of the Spanish National Team that won the FIFA World Cup in South Africa last summer.
A nine-time European champion and 31-time champion of Spain’s La Liga, Real Madrid is also an 18-time winner of Spain’s Copa del Rey. In April, Madrid beat league-rival Barcelona 1-0 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, to capture their most recent title.
The clash at the Coliseum will be the first game for either team in the Herbalife World Football Challenge, a competition that will see 14 games played throughout North America, featuring some of the world’s biggest and most popular clubs. In addition to Real Madrid and the LA Galaxy, the World Football Challenge also includes international sides Barcelona, C.D. Chivas de Guadalajara, Club America, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sporting Clube de Portugal and the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Major League Soccer. The Galaxy will also play Manchester City as part of the World Football Challenge, with that game being played at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, July 24 at 1 p.m. Tickets are still available for that match, as low as $30. BUY NOW
Real Madrid 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge Roster
GOALKEEPER (4) – Iker Casillas, Antonio Adán, Jesus Fernandez Collado, Tomas Mejias
DEFENDERS (10) – Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeola, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Casado, Fabio Coentrão, Jose Nacho Fernández, Marcelo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane
MIDFIELDER (7) – Xabi Alonso, Jose Maria Callejon, Esteban Granero, Kaka, Sami Khedira, Mesut Özil, Nuri Sahin
FORWARD (4) – Karim Benzema,Jose Luis Mato San Martin, Jese Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo
HEAD COACH – José Mourinho
Tickets for this game are on sale now starting at just $40 by calling 1-877-3GALAXY (342-5299) or by visiting www.lagalaxy.com/worldfootballchallenge and at various outlets and Ticketmaster locations around Los Angeles. (Click here to view all tienda locations.)For fans of Real Madrid, additional supporters sections have been added for the visiting club. Fans wishing to sit with fellow Real Madrid fans are asked to request tickets in these sections when purchasing their seats.
The Galaxy are urging fans to arrive at the stadium early to avoid getting delayed in traffic. Tailgating is encouraged and the World Football Challenge SoccerFest will have food, interactive activities and live music beginning at 3 p.m. For more information on traffic, parking, public transportation options and directions please visit: www.lagalaxy.com/realmadridinfo.
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Broadcast Info Announced for World Football Challenge Tournament
