As 2012 winds to a close, the U.S. national team looks ahead to 2013, a year which will determine whether it advances to its seventh consecutive World Cup, or if Jurgen Klinsmann's great experiment ends in disaster. This year, the German coach embarked upon his first meaningful games with the Stars and Stripes, with decidedly mixed results.

In the end, however, the team picked up some historic friendly wins in Italy and Mexico, and qualified for the Hexagonal, precarious as the road turned out to be. As we look forward to 2013, let's take a look back at some of the most memorable and important aspects of 2012 for the Stars and Stripes.

-Seth Vertelney

1. 

   1. Best game: May 26 vs. Scotland

2. 

   2. Worst game: Sept. 7 at Jamaica

3. 

   3. Biggest feud: Jurgen Klinsmann vs. Jozy Altidore

4. 

   4. Feel good story: Ricardo Clark

5. 

   5. Best transfer: Michael Bradley from Chievo Verona to Roma

6. 

   6. Worst transfer: Maurice Edu from Rangers to Stoke City

7. 

   7. Breakthrough performance: Geoff Cameron

8. 

   8. Best goal: Michael Bradley vs. Russia, 11/14

9. 

   9. Biggest concern: Landon Donovan's future

10. 

    10. Best player: Clint Dempsey