FIFA World Rankings February 2008

It’s that time again kids. The time when FIFA feeds all the football matches from the past four years into a giant super-computer, and waits for it do some complicated mathematical type things before spitting out the new world rankings. The computer wasn’t inclined to change anything at the top, with the first nine identical to January 2008 and Argentina still numero uno. But the Africa Cup of Nation has caused a bit of movement, with Ghana jumping 29 places to number 14. Doesn’t make up for failing to capture the Africa Cup of Nations, but still an impressive leap.

1 Argentina
2 Brazil
3 Italy
4 Spain
5 Germany
6 Czech Republic
7 France
8 Portugal
9 Netherlands
10 Greece
11 England +1
12 Croatia -2
13 Romania
14 Ghana +29
14 Scotland
16 Mexico -1
17 Cameroon +8
18 Turkey -2
19 Bulgaria -1
20 Poland +3

Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire jumped 14 places to 24th, Egypt climbed only six places to 29th despite winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and Australia maneuvered 10 places north to 38th. USA fell six places to 26th while Nigeria dropped like a particularly heavy stone, going down 26 places to 45th.

For the full FIFA World Rankings all the way down to joint 202nd click here.