Statistically Speaking
U.S. National Team 2012: A Close Look at the Numbers
The Americans finished atop their group in the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualification, and that's what really matters. But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun playing with the numbers.
Facts and figures rarely tell the whole story, but occasionally they reveal trends and truths that take you past the headlines. Here's a look at some of the more compelling U.S. national team statistics amassed during 2012.
0—Goals scored by Jozy Altidore in 2012
6—Goals scored by Jozy Altidore in 2009 9—Goals scored by Landon Donovan in 2007
7—Goals scored by Donovan in 2009
3—Goals scored by Donovan in 2012
0—Goals scored by Donovan in 2012 in games not against Scotland 3—U.S. national team goals conceded via free kick during the semifinal round of World Cup Qualification
5—Points conceded as a direct result of those free kicks 23—U.S. national team goals scored in 2012
13—Goals conceded in 2012
+10—Goal differential in 2012
-4—Goal differential in 2011
+22—Goal differential in 2008
26—Number of players who saw playing time during the semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying
11—Players who experienced World Cup Qualification for the first time (Terrence Boyd, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Herculez Gomez, Alan Gordon, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Brek Shea, Danny Williams, and Graham Zusi)
3—Players who saw action in all six 2012 World Cup Qualifiers (Clint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez, and Tim Howard) 3—Games Jozy Altidore started in 2012
13—Games Altidore started in 2011 5—Games Kyle Beckerman started in second half of 2011 (out of 7)
2—Games Beckerman started in 2012 (out of 13) 11—Games played by Maurice Edu in 2012 (634 minutes)
0—Games played by Matt Besler, Jay DeMerit, Omar Gonzalez, and Eric Lichaj in 2012 (0 minutes)
20—Minutes played by Brad Guzan in 2012, the squad’s No. 2 goalkeeper 812—Minutes played by Geoff Cameron in 2012
0—Minutes played by Geoff Cameron in 2011 696—Minutes played by Jonathan Bornstein in 2010
0—Minutes played by Jonathan Bornstein in 2012 781—Minutes played by Steve Cherundolo in 2012
826—Minutes played by Cherundolo in 2005
.333—Klinsmann’s winning percentage in 2011 (2-4-1)
.750—Bob Bradley’s winning percentage in 2008 6—Highest rank of team played in 2012 (Brazil)
106—Lowest rank of team played in 2012 (Antigua & Barbuda) 3—Number of Top 10 teams the U.S. played in 2012 (Brazil, Italy, Russia)
1-1-1—Record against these teams 6—Games played during the semifinal round of 2012 CONCACAF World Cup Qualification
4-1-1—Record against these teams
17—Total yellow cards conceded by the other 48 players who saw action in 2012 7—Players aged 23 and under who saw action in the final match of 2012 against Russia
3—Players aged 23 and under who either scored or helped create a goal in the 2-2 draw (Diskerud, Boyd, Agudelo) 22—Current ASN 100 rank of Chris Pontius, the highest-ranked player who did not receive a cap in 2012
98—Current ASN 100 rank of Edson Buddle, who received one cap in 2012 What do you think of these statistics? Did any of them surprise you? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Gauging the Goals
6—Goals scored by Clint Dempsey in 2012, the most on the team0—Goals scored by Jozy Altidore in 2012
6—Goals scored by Jozy Altidore in 2009 9—Goals scored by Landon Donovan in 2007
7—Goals scored by Donovan in 2009
3—Goals scored by Donovan in 2012
0—Goals scored by Donovan in 2012 in games not against Scotland 3—U.S. national team goals conceded via free kick during the semifinal round of World Cup Qualification
5—Points conceded as a direct result of those free kicks 23—U.S. national team goals scored in 2012
13—Goals conceded in 2012
+10—Goal differential in 2012
-4—Goal differential in 2011
+22—Goal differential in 2008
Games Played
49—Number of players who received at least one cap during 201226—Number of players who saw playing time during the semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying
11—Players who experienced World Cup Qualification for the first time (Terrence Boyd, Geoff Cameron, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, Herculez Gomez, Alan Gordon, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Brek Shea, Danny Williams, and Graham Zusi)
3—Players who saw action in all six 2012 World Cup Qualifiers (Clint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez, and Tim Howard) 3—Games Jozy Altidore started in 2012
13—Games Altidore started in 2011 5—Games Kyle Beckerman started in second half of 2011 (out of 7)
2—Games Beckerman started in 2012 (out of 13) 11—Games played by Maurice Edu in 2012 (634 minutes)
0—Games played by Matt Besler, Jay DeMerit, Omar Gonzalez, and Eric Lichaj in 2012 (0 minutes)
Marking Minutes
1,020—Minutes played by Tim Howard in 2012, the most of any American player20—Minutes played by Brad Guzan in 2012, the squad’s No. 2 goalkeeper 812—Minutes played by Geoff Cameron in 2012
0—Minutes played by Geoff Cameron in 2011 696—Minutes played by Jonathan Bornstein in 2010
0—Minutes played by Jonathan Bornstein in 2012 781—Minutes played by Steve Cherundolo in 2012
826—Minutes played by Cherundolo in 2005
The Team
.750—U.S. national team winning percentage in 2012, Klinsmann’s first full year in charge (9 wins, 3 losses, 2 ties).333—Klinsmann’s winning percentage in 2011 (2-4-1)
.750—Bob Bradley’s winning percentage in 2008 6—Highest rank of team played in 2012 (Brazil)
106—Lowest rank of team played in 2012 (Antigua & Barbuda) 3—Number of Top 10 teams the U.S. played in 2012 (Brazil, Italy, Russia)
1-1-1—Record against these teams 6—Games played during the semifinal round of 2012 CONCACAF World Cup Qualification
4-1-1—Record against these teams
Miscellaneous
7—Yellow cards conceded by Jermaine Jones in 201217—Total yellow cards conceded by the other 48 players who saw action in 2012 7—Players aged 23 and under who saw action in the final match of 2012 against Russia
3—Players aged 23 and under who either scored or helped create a goal in the 2-2 draw (Diskerud, Boyd, Agudelo) 22—Current ASN 100 rank of Chris Pontius, the highest-ranked player who did not receive a cap in 2012
98—Current ASN 100 rank of Edson Buddle, who received one cap in 2012 What do you think of these statistics? Did any of them surprise you? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
