FIFA February 2010 Rankings: No Respect For Second Place.

February 8th, 2010 | by: chris |

Russia FIFA President For most of the world, January was a lost international outside of Japan lowering World Cup expectations to “France in 2002 would be a blinding success” and Diego Maradona continuing his one-man crusade to give every single Argentine footballer, professional or otherwise, a senior cap.

But for Africa, everything happened.

As you may have heard, Egypt won it again. And with that, they were handed the second-highest FIFA ranking ever for an African team – the best since 1994 – and a spot in the top ten. Which is pretty curious for a team that didn’t make the World Cup.

Most matters stayed the same, with Spain still tops and Brazil a not-quite-distant-but-distant-enough second, proving just how FIFA feels about its own Confederations Cup tournament. Germany are still flooding the offices of FIFA wondering just how Portugal deserves fifth, along with anonymous notes from the desk of Jogi Loew wondering if they’re hiring come August. Meanwhile FIFA are doing everything possible to combat the British media hype machine, and to keep Raymond Domenech inexplicably employed.

And when it comes to the African Cup of Nations, FIFA gets curious…its monthly promise to world football fans. Egypt rocket up the charts to tenth, taking over for Croatia as the honorary top ten team which couldn’t qualify for South Africa. Next month: Malaysia.

Ghana finished second with a squad…well, with a squad. Near the end it seemed they were just running out warm bodies in some positions, heartbeats preferred but not required. They beat Nigeria in the semifinals to get to the final where they, obviously, lost. And yet Nigeria won more points, a higher ranking, and a crate of little umbrellas with Sepp’s smiling face for tropical beverages. Apparently FIFA went with the straight mathematical theory “two is less than three”, which would explain the logic for just about everything they do.

Elsewhere, Algeria were punished for making the semifinals. Serves them right.

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Joao Fernandes

PT is fifth? HOW?
H.O.

Until FIFA’s World Rankings become like the ATP Tour’s Rankings, it will continue to be the WORST sports ranking ever created for a Major Global Sport.

C’mon…

Greece (12) are not better than Mexico (17)?
Australia (23) are not better than the Czech Republic (25)?
and definitely the USA (14) are not better than Uruguay (21)?

Like a said Fifa’s rankings are a JOKE in every way.
Elliot

How is Argentina ranked as high as 8th ?

Seriously
Tony

@ H.O. thats interesting about the ATP rankings, maybe you can explain further.
Dave

how is Portugal better than Germany? By barely making it to the world cup qualifiers and the need of a playoff gets you fifth place, ahead of a team that beat them at the last world cup and euro 08, and finished top of their qualifying group. go FIFA
Jose68

Seems like Egypt, Croatia, Ukraine and Israel all hold the dubious honors of being the highest ranking teams not in the World Cup.

And to add in my own: Portugal 5th?!
Loewsmilesbetter

@ Elliot:
Wait till March 3rd:

Germany – Argentina (in Munich).
star_bury

@ H.O.

I agree that the Czechs would beat Australia more often than not. The other two I see as pretty 50-50…
star_bury

I just looked at the elo rankings, and they’re not close to perfect either…

Mexico over France
Honduras over Sweden
Ecuador over Ghana
Czechs in 35th
Coconut

Sorry to burst your bubble Bury, but France has NOT been doing so well as of late, ELO is way ahead of being accurate compared to FIFA rankings.

you pointed out 4 things that “dont seem right” with ELO, yet FIFA has even worst rankings. especially when 5 teams in the top 12 seem to be extremely over ranked.
http://www.football-rankings.info Edgar

chris, it seems the FIFA ranking will bend to your will, as Germany will pip Portugal for 5th next month and Egypt will drop 6 or 7 places.

Nigeria (-6) have also been punished. On the other hand, FIFA couldn’t help but further punish Ghana and Algeria, both dropping two places.

Alas, they couldn’t grant you the Malaysia wish, as Croatia will reclaim the dubious honor of being the highest ranked team not qualified for the World Cup.