Giggs joins star-studded squad for charity football match

Ryan Giggs, Henrik Larsson, Zinedine Zidane, Jens Lehmann and Alan Shearer playing on the same pitch? It can only be the UNICEF UK Soccer Aid charity match, to be played in Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium and broadcast live on TV.

The match on June 6 not only neatly slots into the gap in the footballing calendar between the Champions League Final on May 22 and the World Cup on June 11, but also raises money to benefit UNICEF projects around the world.

The international childrens' charity are hoping to repeat Soccer Aid's fundraising feats of 2006 and 2008 by raising well over £1 million (€1.16m / $1.48m) from gate receipts and donations from viewers watching the ITV broadcast.

As before, the two teams will represent England and the Rest Of The World, featuring a mix of professional and ex-professional footballers and popular celebrities, and Giggs is the latest superstar to put his name on the teamsheet.

The Welsh wizard joins Zinedine Zidane and Henrik Larsson as well as the cricketer Brian Lara, chef Gordon Ramsay, pop singer Ronan Keating, ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, squarejawed TV presenter Gethin Jones and team captain actor Michael Sheen (who played Leeds manager Brian Clough in The Damned United).

Liverpool FC legends Kenny Daglish and Ian Rush will manage the side, while lining up opposite for England are Alan Shearer, David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham and Jamie Redknapp as well as pop star Robbie Williams, boxer Ricky Hatton, actor Damian Lewis ( Band of Brothers) and TV presenter Ben Shephard among the confirmed names so far.

Match tickets are billed at £20 for adults, £5 for children and seniors. More information about the event and its beneficiaries can be found at SoccerAid.org.uk.