Spain Stays on Top of the FIFA Rankings

October 8th, 2008 | by: Laurie |

The new FIFA rankings are out, and guess what? Spain’s still #1 with a gain of 78 points, which allows them to extend their lead over #2 Italy and #3 Germany.

From FIFA:

Things are far more exciting in the next few spots in the ranking. Brazil (4th, up 2), the Netherlands (5th, down 1) and Croatia (6th, down 1) are all within a few points of each other and, together with Argentina (7th), are locked in an exciting battle. Russia (9th) have moved up three places, thus managing to break back into the top ten at the expense of Turkey (13th, down 3).

The USA’s wins in World Cup qualifying bumped them up seven places to 21st. Lithuania was also a big winner among the top fifty, up 17 spots to 37th, after wins over both Serbia and Romania put them in the top of their World Cup qualifying group. And Macedonia jumped ten spots, to 46th, with a win over Scotland. But none of these bigger teams can top New Zealand, who jumped 57 spots (that’s not a typo) to 54th place — the top team from Oceania.

Biggest losers among the top teams included Scotland (poor Scotland), down 10 spots after that Macedonia loss.

And my favorite statistic is Faroe Islands, the little UEFA team that keeps trying while continually drawing teams like Italy and France in their qualifying groups. Where teams like Spain have a total of 1643 FIFA points, Faroe Island has 7. Yes, 7. Yet they still keep going and play every qualifier. And best of all, they’re not in last place.

Let’s hear it for the little guys.

Full rankings list is here.

Tags: Argentina, Brazil, FIFA rankings, germany, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Spain, World Football

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Comments

By Ibracadabra | October 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am

Israel @ no. 16!! Wow!!

Posted from United States

By Lissette Evil Blue | October 8th, 2008 at 1:36 pm

The ? what did Italy did to be #2 over Germany. Did Zlatan score a Freak goal for them, or something. I dont understand.

By omar | October 8th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

can anyone…anyone explain to me WHY egypt is still ranked 22..8 or so fucing spots under cameroon who we raped 4-2 and beat in the final 1-0..both games in african cup of nations

By omar | October 8th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

fuc we r 10 rankings behind cameroon some one plz explain the bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!wtf is goin on?????????

By john | October 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

omar – I find it’s best to regaurd the FIFA rankings as more of a popularity contest. So don’t worry about it: they’re completely meaningless. Regaurdless of what Cameroon are ranked, they’re still the same squad, and one Egypt will probably continue to beat.

By john | October 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

Oh, and I’m sure if Egypt had more high profile players competing in European leagues, they’d get fairer shakes.

By Laurie | October 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

john, you’re incorrect. It’s all numerical — explained here http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/so-where-do-those-fifa-rankings-come-from-anyway.html — it’s a running total of points accumulated over the last four years.

Whether or not it’s accurate is open to debate, but it’s not arbitrary or a “popularity contest.”

Posted from United States

By Shazback | October 8th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

John & Omar : Egypt beat Cameroon at the ACN, but Egypt has a lot of defeats and draws over the past four years against teams they should beat (i.e. no losing to Argentina, Spain or Brazil)… 4-0 defeat against Sudan (20/08/2008), 1-0 defeat against Malawi (14/06/2008), 4-1 defeat against Japan (17/10/2007), 2-0 defeat against Uruguay (16/08/2006), 2-1 defeat against South Africa (14/01/2006), 2-1 defeat against Tunisia (16/11/2005), 2-1 against Lybia (08/10/2004)… As well as against Portugal, Ivory Coast, Spain and Argentina. And draws all over the place (Bulgaria [29/11/2004], UAE [31/07/2005], Cameroon [08/10/2005], Morocco [24/01/2006], Ivory Coast [10/02/2006], Botswana [07/10/2006], Mauritania [03/06/2007], Kuwait [12/06/2007], Ivory Coast [22/08/2007], Burundi [09/09/2007], Libya [21/11/2007], Angola [13/01/2008], Zambia [30/01/2008]). Egypt are the reigning champions of Africa, but they didn’t qualify for the World Cup 2006 (they finished 3rd of their group, behind Ivory Coast and Cameroon).

Thing is, Although Egypt beat Cameroon twice in the last ACN, over the past four years, Cameroon have gained more points. Or perhaps Egypt have simply “lost more” points by drawing/losing more often against minnows. After all, France beat Spain convincingly in 2006, but their inability to do it in 2004 and 2008 means that Spain is ahead of France.

Posted from China

By omar | October 9th, 2008 at 11:07 am

yes very nice facts and all but the rankings shud be up to date not including stats from 4 yrs ago.we wnt to no who is bttr now…who shud win if they play tmrw..(cameroon v egypt) based on the last half yr egypt wud be the favored team…and if its tru thts its an accumulation of the pst 4 ys then the rankings r b.s. we dont wnt to no who was bttr 4 yrs ago…besides based on ur facts..if egypt were to win the world cup than they stil wudnt be ranked #1..if this is tru than the fifa rankings r fucin bs…all in all i agree with john!

By john | October 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am

Numbers, math, proof, bah. I prefer my simpleton’s understanding.

By 9 Champions Leagues | October 10th, 2008 at 5:39 am

Welcome to the new era: la furia roja. Que viva españa coño.

Posted from Spain