How Ridiculous are the new FIFA Rankings?

Question

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP)—The United States dropped one spot to 31st in the FIFA world soccer rankings released Wednesday, matching its low since 1997.

Since the Americans sank to a low of 35th in October 1997, they have been as far down as 31st only four other times: June 1999 and from November 2006 through January 2007. Their highest ranking was sixth in April 2006.

Still, the U.S. team is the highest-ranked in the North and Central American and Caribbean region, one spot above Mexico, which dropped 13 places in one month and reached its lowest level since the rankings began in 1993.

European champion Spain remained first, while Germany moved up one spot into second above World Cup champion Italy. The Netherlands stayed in fourth and Croatia moved up two places to fifth, its highest ranking since reaching the 1998 World Cup semifinal.

Brazil dropped to places to sixth, its lowest level since its worst mark of eighth in August 1993. Argentina fell one spot to seventh, followed by the Czech Republic and Portugal.

Euro 2008 semifinalist Russia moved up one place to 10th, its first appearance in the top 10 since 1997. Romania was 11th and France fell two places to 12th.

Answer 1

Why ridiculous, US are where they should be, Croatia had ONE loss in qualifications for EURO (Macedonia)and undefeated at EUROs (in regular time against Turkey was 0-0), Brazil is struggling with qualifications for WC2010 etc etc... two months for now the rankings will be totally different like always!!!

Answer 2

they are a little. i am israeli and i`m happy israel is #20 in the world right now, however, i and a lot of fans here in israel know that's just bizarre, having played in one world cup 40 years ago.  there are teams a few spots below us who would humiliate us in a game.

20th is also our highest ever ranking :D

Answer 3

i hate fifa rankings i cant believe that 8 european are in the first 10 probably cause they played the euro

Answer 4

The reason is the same why last year American Countries moved up while most European down: last year American teams played for their continental cup, while a few weeks ago Euro 2008 took place; so, including qualifying rounds, European teams played OFFICIAL games during the last full year while Americans teams since a years ago where basically involved in friendly games only.

Answer 5

i think its fine, the us is no superpower it could be a bit higher, so could mexico.

brazil and argentina have been unimpressive lately, i dont mind them dropping, and italy being wc 2 years ago shouldnt affect todays ranks.

think about it in say, bcs form.  

in 2006 florida won the national championship.  now, they are ranked 13- 10 places lower than wat ur complaining about italy being ranked.

see what i mean its not ridiculous 2 years ago was 2 years ago

Answer 6

I never been a fan of these rankings to be sincere.

But you have to consider that the teams who played in the EUROS, their games have more weight in terms of calculating these rankings.

The USA played 3 friendlies, which they did not win nor score in any of them. Then they played a Qualifier against a very weak team.

Your opponents stength and result also goes into calculating these rankings, so you can't be surprised about the US Dropping places...

Argentina(2 draws) and Brasil(loss and a draw) did very little in their Qualifying games as well to help their ranking.....

I don't think it is that Ridiculous...

Answer 7

yeah, I take no notice of these rankings whatsoever.