Ian ConstantineLatest Fifa Rankings - Socceroos move to 38 - up 10 places!
February 14th 2008 05:36
FIFA has announced its latest World Rankings with Australia moving up 10 places to 38 on the list.
Ghana were the big winners jumping a staggering 29 places to 14th to become the highest ranked African nation.
Neighboring Nigeria have surprisingly fallen 26 places to 45.
It is business as usual for the top dogs with Argentina, Brazil, Italy Spain and Germany rounding out the top 5.
So what does this mean leading into the World Cup? Not much really. But given there are only 32 places up for grabs at the World’s biggest sporting event outside the Olympics – from first glance it would appear Australia is not expected to make it.
In theory this makes sense – but because of the qualifying system in place – it isn’t as straight forward.
Qualifying is divided into regional zones – and these zones are guaranteed a quota of places at the World Cup …
With Pim leading the Socceroos to an effortless 3-0 win against Quatar the Aussies are on the rise.
But in the so-called 'Group of Death' it is not clear sailing for our boys with China and Iraq also in our pool.
The Latest Rankings
1 Argentina
2 Brazil
3 Italy
4 Spain
5 Germany
6 Czech Republic
7 France
8 Portugal
9 Netherlands
10 Greece
11 England
12 Croatia
13 Romania
14 Ghana
14 Scotland
16 Mexico
17 Cameroon
18 Turkey
19 Bulgaria
20 Poland
21 Colombia
22 Russia
23 Israel
24 Côte d'Ivoire
24 Sweden
26 USA
27 Paraguay
28 Norway
29 Egypt
30 Uruguay
31 Serbia
32 Ukraine
33 Denmark
34 Northern Ireland
35 Japan
36 Republic of Ireland
37 Finland
38 Australia
39 Iran
40 Chile
41 Korea Republic
41 Switzerland
43 Senegal
43 Belgium
45 Nigeria
46 Mali
47 Guinea
48 Morocco
49 Moldova
50 Saudi Arabia
50 Honduras
Ghana were the big winners jumping a staggering 29 places to 14th to become the highest ranked African nation.
Neighboring Nigeria have surprisingly fallen 26 places to 45.
It is business as usual for the top dogs with Argentina, Brazil, Italy Spain and Germany rounding out the top 5.
So what does this mean leading into the World Cup? Not much really. But given there are only 32 places up for grabs at the World’s biggest sporting event outside the Olympics – from first glance it would appear Australia is not expected to make it.
In theory this makes sense – but because of the qualifying system in place – it isn’t as straight forward.
Qualifying is divided into regional zones – and these zones are guaranteed a quota of places at the World Cup …
With Pim leading the Socceroos to an effortless 3-0 win against Quatar the Aussies are on the rise.
But in the so-called 'Group of Death' it is not clear sailing for our boys with China and Iraq also in our pool.
The Latest Rankings
1 Argentina
2 Brazil
3 Italy
4 Spain
5 Germany
6 Czech Republic
7 France
8 Portugal
9 Netherlands
10 Greece
11 England
12 Croatia
13 Romania
14 Ghana
14 Scotland
16 Mexico
17 Cameroon
18 Turkey
19 Bulgaria
20 Poland
21 Colombia
22 Russia
23 Israel
24 Côte d'Ivoire
24 Sweden
26 USA
27 Paraguay
28 Norway
29 Egypt
30 Uruguay
31 Serbia
32 Ukraine
33 Denmark
34 Northern Ireland
35 Japan
36 Republic of Ireland
37 Finland
38 Australia
39 Iran
40 Chile
41 Korea Republic
41 Switzerland
43 Senegal
43 Belgium
45 Nigeria
46 Mali
47 Guinea
48 Morocco
49 Moldova
50 Saudi Arabia
50 Honduras
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