The national team has dropped out of first place in the latest FIFA rankings. Argentina is now ranked the 6th best team in the world. Spain has taken the top spot, at least for now.
The current list is, as usual, very Eurocentric.
It seems absurd to me that Paraguay, who is in first place in the South American WC Qualifying standings, is not even listed in the FIFA rankings. Paraguay is surely a better team than at least 50 percent of the teams that made the ranking.
Also, Brasil is the highest ranked South American team even though they are currently in 5th place in WC Qualifying behind both Paraguay and Argentina.
FIFA Rankings - July 2008
1. Spain
2. Italy
3. Germany
4. Brasil
5. Holland
6. Argentina
7. Croatia
8. Czech Republic
9. Portugal
10. France
11. Russia
12. Romania
13. Cameroon
14. Turkey
15. England
16. Scotland
17. Bulgaria
18. Greece
19. Mexico
20. Ghana
2 comments:
Sorry for this comment being so late, but I agree that the current ranking is ridiculous. Why is Italy in second place? Their descent should be much farther than that. With their current squad and prospects they have no hope of winning the 2010 World Cup if you want to be realistic. They should be 10th and that is being kind. You are right about Paraguay, and in fact, some of the South American teams look very strong. As well as Paraguay there are Colombia and Chile, who should place higher than Brasil, IMO, since both national teams have recently beat Brasil in qualifiers. Am I wrong? I think Germany should be placed second as well, since they were runners-up at the Euros and their U-19 team has just won their Euro Cup.
I totally agree with you.
The rankings are ridiculous and I suppose they you should be taken that way.
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