Even without David Beckham, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been virtually untouchable.

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The absence of the injured Beckham - who tore his Achilles tendon in a game March 14 -- has done little to damper the form of the Galaxy, who have lost only twice in their first 16 games, allowed a league-low seven goals and clearly have the best record in Major League Soccer.

Four Galaxy players - Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Omar Gonzalez and Donovan Ricketts - were selected to the First XI for the MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United.

The game, to be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston on July 28, will come a day after Los Angeles hosts the Puerto Rico Islanders in the opening game of a Preliminary Round series in the CONCACAF Champions League.

"When [Los Angeles coach and general manager] Bruce [Arena] named the team, we all spoke - Omar, myself, Donovan, Edson - we let him know that we all absolutely want to go and we want to participate if we can," Donovan said about the match against the Islanders.

"It's going to be difficult with the travel and all that, but you only get so many chances to play in a game like this and we're going to try to take advantage of it."

Thanks to his performance in South Africa, especially his dramatic equalizer against Algeria that allowed the United States to advance to the knockout stage as group winners, Donovan returned from the World Cup a conquering hero, a household name in the mainstream media and a regular on the talk-show circuit.

But will he stay in Los Angeles? Donovan had a successful trial with Everton of the English Premier League during the winter and has again garnered interest in Europe.

"Right now I want to be in America. I absolutely love being here and I loved getting back to my teammates," Donovan said. "As you know, I never say never to anything. Right now, rumors are rumors and if there is something serious to look at, I will, but for now I'm very excited to be home."

Donovan and Buddle have readjusted quickly to the domestic game, with Donovan setting up Buddle for his league-leading 10th goal of the year in a 3-1 win against the Seattle Sounders FC on July 4 at the Home Depot Center.

"I wanted to get a goal, especially coming back," Buddle said after the game. "First I wanted to play well, but if a goal came I would take it and I'm happy with the result."

Last year, the Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup Final for the sixth time in club history, losing to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks in front of a crowd of 46,011 at Qwest Field in Seattle.

By reaching the final, though, they clinched their place in the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round against the Islanders, making their third consecutive appearance in the tournament.

The winner of the aggregate series, played at the Home Depot Center on July 27 and Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon on August 3, will advance to the Group Stage and be placed in Group D with Mexico's Toluca, Olimpia from Honduras and the winner of the preliminary series between Salvadoran squad FAS and Guatemala's Xelaju.

"Puerto Rico is a team with proven success in the USSF Division-2 Pro League and we are looking forward to opening our Champions League campaign against them," Arena said. "They had success in this tournament in the past and have an experienced manager in Colin Clarke, so they will present a difficult challenge for us."