KEY POINTS:
The Oceania All Stars have failed in an audacious bid to sign Brazilian superstar Ronaldo but still hope to nab another big name for the clash against David Beckham's LA Galaxy.
The composite side, who have Danish great Brian Laudrup, World Cup winner Christian Karembeu and former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich in their number, wanted to bolster their ranks with the flamboyant Brazilian striker who is on the comeback trail after a series of knee injuries (and a public image-destroying liaison with a transvestite prostitute).
Instead the focus will turn to a Frenchman with visions of thespian grandeur and a Surinamese Dutchman with vision of the peripheral kind.
Talks are understood to be advanced between Oceania representatives and both Eric Cantona and Clarence Seedorf, though the clock is ticking.
The Auckland Regional Council, which is bankrolling next month's match, is insisting on a Tuesday deadline so it can roll out promotions and advertising for the match to be hosted at Mt Smart Stadium.
"There's a couple of players still umming and ahhing and we will be talking with them through the weekend," said Oceania confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas.
"They haven't been able to commit to us yet."
Cantona would be an impressive drawcard, given his brilliant career at Manchester United; his almost surreal ability with the ball at his feet; his dabbling with martial arts on a Crystal Palace-supporting buffoon; and his attempts at philosophy to explain the kung fu manoeuvre _ "when the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea".
Although he hasn't played at the top level for some years, he has popped up on screens in beach football and occasionally on the silver screen.
As little as 18 months ago, Seedorf was a Champions League winner with AC Milan, collecting his fourth winners' medal. Earlier he had become the first player to win that coveted prize with three different teams. The Dutch international had also won with Ajax and Real Madrid.
Karembeu, who convinced several of his 1998 World Cup-winning French team-mates, including star midfielder Zinedine Zidane, to play in New Caledonia this year, will be called on to ring up a few favours.
