12 on the bubble for U.S.

Times soccer writer Grahame L. Jones comments on the 12 players hoping to land one of the final seven spots on the U.S. World Cup team:

DEFENDERS
Heath Pearce: Option on the left
Chad Marshall: Inexperience hurts

MIDFIELDERS
DaMarcus Beasley: Can he resurface?
Stuart Holden: Best bet of 12
Sacha Kljestan: Been out of form
Alejandro Bedoya: Unknown quantit.
Robbie Rogers: Inconsistent

FORWARDS
Edson Buddle: Has a real chance
Herculez Gomez: Would be surprise
Robbie Findley: Long shot at best
Brian Ching: Is veteran past it?
Eddie Johnson: Peaked in 2004