TORONTO --- One of these seasons, Toronto FC fans will finally get to see a full-strength match between their club and the Los Angeles Galaxy. That match, however, won't be this Saturday.
With the international schedule in full swing, the Reds will be missing several prominent names from their lineup on the weekend. Midfielder Carl Robinson is playing for Wales in a friendly against the Netherlands on June 1. Amado Guevara will be gone for much of the next two weeks as he leads his native Honduras into its World Cup qualifying effort against Puerto Rico, as well as two friendlies. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton is playing for Canada in a friendly against Brazil in Seattle on May 31, and maybe also play in a June 4 friendly against Panama.
Defender Jim Brennan, who has 43 caps for Canada, will also play for his national team in the June 4 match, but asked out of the Brazil game in order to stay with TFC.
"Seeing as we're missing a lot of players, I didn't feel it was right for myself to go out there and play that game and leave us a bit short here," Brennan said. "Dale [Team Canada head coach Dale Mitchell] was very good about it. Sutts had to go since I think they were lacking a little bit in that department, but [Mitchell] said I could just come down to the Panama game."
In additional to internationals, Toronto has also been bitten by the injury bug. Danny Dichio and Tyrone Marshall are both questionable for Saturday's match due to nagging injuries. Dichio came out of Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions' League qualifier against Montreal after 41 minutes due to a groin injury that has bothered the striker for the past several weeks.
Marshall, meanwhile, missed the Montreal game after being taken off in last Saturday's 3-2 loss to D.C. United. TFC head coach John Carver said Marshall was battling both a hamstring strain and a possible foot infection. Carver said both Marshall and Dichio would be re-evaluated on Friday.
With all of these absences plus Laurent Robert's suspension after being sent off in injury time of the D.C. game, there are suddenly several holes in what had been a very stable Reds lineup. It is reminiscent of the Galaxy's only other visit to BMO Field, last August 5. TFC was missing several regulars with injuries, but still played well in a one-sided 0-0 draw.
The situation won't be as dire this season when Los Angeles comes to town. Carver said his club has been preparing for such a scenario of international duty colliding with the team's fitness, particularly since the L.A. game will be TFC's fifth match in a 15-day span. Carver said he doesn't expect much of an adjustment period for the new faces in the starting XI.
"I think the guys who are coming into the system ... have been on the bench waiting for a chance," Carver said. "We don't do anything different to what the first team does in the reserve team, so they understand how we want to play. It shouldn't be much of a difference."
Carver pointed out that some of the reserve players will be motivated by what in some cases is their first extended game action of the season, and by their desire to steal a spot in the lineup. He noted that defender Olivier Tebily, who came on for Marshall last Saturday and played the full 90 minutes in Montreal, has already earned more playing time.
"I thought [Tebily] was our best player [against Montreal]," Carver said. "I thought he was outstanding. Again, here's another player who's been waiting for an opportunity ... if somebody comes in and plays well, they keep the shirt. I don't care who it is or who they are, they keep the shirt. Olly, for me, has done enough to keep the shirt."
Tebily seems set for another start at center back, while Brian Edwards will make his second start of the season at goalkeeper. Up front, TFC will likely play a traditional two-striker formation in the absence of attacking midfielder Guevara, which means forwards Jeff Cunningham and Jarrod Smith will see the field, especially if Dichio isn't fit.
Maurice Edu will return after his own international duty with the United States, and will probably be joined in the midfield by Kevin Harmse and Todd Dunivant, the two likeliest candidates to fill in for Robinson and Robert in the midfield.
Dunivant, for his part, is ready to contribute. The veteran has 122 starts in his six-year MLS career, but just one start and 129 minutes this season. Dunivant has accepted his reduced role as a by-product of the team's success, but is still itching to prove himself worthy of being a starter once again.
"I'm out here training every day. I'll be ready to go when the time comes," Dunivant said. "When things are going right, why switch it up, you know? But it's a long season and being a veteran, I know you're going to need all the guys to play. There's going to be injuries, there's going to be international duty, and so you'll need a full squad like you'll see this week. It's not easy being on the sidelines, but roles change throughout the year and I don't plan on staying there."
While TFC won't have its ideal lineup on Saturday, things are far from gloomy on the Toronto side. The Reds have an unbeaten 3-0-2 record at BMO Field this season and haven't lost a home match since Sept. 22, 2007. Toronto also won their first match of the season against Los Angeles, a 3-2 result on April 13.
And, while the Reds are missing several key players, the Galaxy will be without a major piece of their attack in David Beckham. The midfielder is scheduled to play for his native England in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago on June 1. It will be the second consecutive year that Beckham has missed a date at BMO Field. Last year's game on August 5 was supposed to be Beckham's first official MLS game with L.A., but an ankle injury delayed his league debut to August 18.
Toronto fans might have to wait until the MLS All-Star Game on July 24 to see Beckham on the BMO Field pitch. Carver, for his part, isn't too upset about missing the English superstar.
"I'm disappointed for the fans and the ladies in the crowd," Carver joked. "But I'm absolutely over the moon that he's not here because he's a top player. We saw that [in England's 2-0 friendly win over the United States] with the service he provided for John Terry's goal. Deep inside I'm delighted he's not here."
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