England up to 4th in FIFA rankings

[iwasthere1972]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

Only FIFA know why that is, these ranking are the biggest load of pash ever, they didn't even come close to being a good team but it works on results I take it.

4th? :bitchy::no way:

[iwasthere1972]

Surely Scotland should be in the top 10. After all we were unbeaten in the Euros.

[marinello59]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

Because the rankings are corrupt and lack sporting integrity. I think. :confused:

[blackpoolhibs]

Gary Lineker ‏@GaryLineker
RT @2010LeeHurst: @GaryLineker England 4th in the FIFA world rankings? What's worse is my local pub team are 15th and they only play darts.

:greengrin

[Hibercelona]

Only FIFA know why that is, these ranking are the biggest load of pash ever, they didn't even come close to being a good team but it works on results I take it.

4th? :bitchy::no way:

Shouldn't it work on results considering that its results that matter? :confused:

[Haymaker]

Brazil have no competitive games atm and england beat two decent sides in the euros and drew with two big sides. The points all add up.

Doesn't mean it is correct though, just a way of making seedings easier

[yeezus.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

I was wondering who's brainwave it was to move them up after their 2010 world cup performance :confused:

[Scouse Hibee]

Only fourth :grr:


What place does our B team (Scotland) currently occupy?

[Keith_M]

Only fourth :grr:


What place does our B team (Scotland) currently occupy?


We haven't played for ages, therefore haven't been beaten, so probably went up to about third.

[hibbysam]

Brazil have no competitive games atm and england beat two decent sides in the euros and drew with two big sides. The points all add up.

Doesn't mean it is correct though, just a way of making seedings easier

Two decent sides? Ukraine are ranked 46 and were 52nd when England fluked one against them, Sweden are 17th and again hardly a decent side.

Yes they drew with France and Italy but shouldn't the "4th best team in the world" and the 3rd best in Europe be beating those sides and reaching at least the semi of the Euro's? Rankings are a total joke!

[Scouse Hibee]

Two decent sides? Ukraine are ranked 46 and were 52nd when England fluked one against them, Sweden are 17th and again hardly a decent side.

Yes they drew with France and Italy but shouldn't the "4th best team in the world" and the 3rd best in Europe be beating those sides and reaching at least the semi of the Euro's? Rankings are a total joke!

Not quite true, if they were a total joke Scotland would be ranked No1 :hilarious

[NAE NOOKIE]

FIFA Rankings .... UEFA Rankings.

Both exist for one reason and one reason only. To enable these bodies to seed groups in all of their competitions to ensure that the big clubs and countries are still around at the end in order to maximise TV money.

End of !

[goosefat]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

They rose 2 places from their previous place of 6th. Simple. :wink:

[Haymaker]

Two decent sides? Ukraine are ranked 46 and were 52nd when England fluked one against them, Sweden are 17th and again hardly a decent side.

Yes they drew with France and Italy but shouldn't the "4th best team in the world" and the 3rd best in Europe be beating those sides and reaching at least the semi of the Euro's? Rankings are a total joke!

Hence why I said they may not be correct. England haven't lost for a while (in regular time) while others have to other big sides. It is useless and only for keeping the big teams qualifying.

[SurferRosa]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

Probably because SKY have said they must be in the top 6...

[Speedy]

Two decent sides? Ukraine are ranked 46 and were 52nd when England fluked one against them, Sweden are 17th and again hardly a decent side.

Yes they drew with France and Italy but shouldn't the "4th best team in the world" and the 3rd best in Europe be beating those sides and reaching at least the semi of the Euro's? Rankings are a total joke!

You get a lot of points for a win and potentially a decent amount for a draw.

You currently don't get points for a defeat but I think you should get points for a 1 goal defeat.

A team would get more points for a 0-0 draw at home to Somalia than they would for losing 2-1 away to Spain. That's where the problem lies imo.

This is why England are so high, they get consistent results against the smaller teams but don't do it in the big games.

[delbert]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497

How did that happen?

Its cos they are positively, definitely, absolutely going to win the next World Cup, and the one after that !!

[erin go bragh]

Brazil are 11th :confused: lowest ive ever seen them .

Argentina 7th , both would wipe the floor with England ,as would Portugal[5th]

Italy [6th] enough said .

Uruguay who are in 3rd are only 3pts in front of them ,with the Germans [2nd] only 8pts in front of England . wtf

So its quite possible for them to move up to 2nd :confused: dearie me :cb


ggtth

[da-robster]

Another thing is England consistently do well in friendlies while other teams don't which gives them an undeserved boost. For example against one person's definition of the big eight ( Brazil, Argentina, The Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) they've won 29% of the competitive matches and 45% of the friendlies.

[NOLA]

its cos they won the world cup in 1968.

[Hibercelona]

its cos they won the world cup in 1968.

Ahem!..... Try 66. :greengrin

[McKenzie]

Brazil are 11th yet favourites to win the next world cup...makes sense

[Hibrandenburg]

Ahem!..... Try 66. :greengrin

It's obviously not being mentioned enough on telly nowadays. C'mon Aunty Beeb. Get them wheelchairs out!

[hibee92]

The most over-rated team in world football.

4th in the world. Jesus.

[Joe Baker II]

FIFA Rankings .... UEFA Rankings.

Both exist for one reason and one reason only. To enable these bodies to seed groups in all of their competitions to ensure that the big clubs and countries are still around at the end in order to maximise TV money.

End of !

Precisely and hence disgraceful decision in 2007 that rankings would be sued to dermine seedings for 2010 world cup qualiifcation rounds. One of the most shameful episodes in Scottish sporting reporting that this was presented as a positive in the press as Scotland (whose ranking was high at the time) were a short-term beneficiary.

[Joe Baker II]

Another thing is England consistently do well in friendlies while other teams don't which gives them an undeserved boost. For example against one person's definition of the big eight ( Brazil, Argentina, The Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) they've won 29% of the competitive matches and 45% of the friendlies.

This correct but despite the corruption behind the rankings as above, seems bizarre a team that has not been to a semi final in 16 years is close to the top 4!

[frazeHFC]

England 4th is hilarious. Argentina, Spain, Italy and Germany are better for starters.


Gary Lineker ‏@GaryLineker
RT @2010LeeHurst: @GaryLineker England 4th in the FIFA world rankings? What's worse is my local pub team are 15th and they only play darts.

:greengrin

:hilarious

[Albanian Hibs]

England are the most over rated team in the world. They rankings are a joke. They are not and never will be the 4th best team in the world.

[CorrieHibs]

The Fifa rankings are rubbish but tbh, England don't lose a lot of a games. Italy beat them on pens and I don't think they lost in qualifying and they seem to win friendlies a lot. All these points add up.

[Simster]

As an Englishman, here is my take on England's position in the rankings:

Teams blatently better than England:
Spain
Germany
Italy
Brazil
Argentina

Teams that are probably better than England but you might understand England being above in the rankings owing to the results in meaningless friendlies:
Portugal - consistent semi finalists/ finalists at the Euros, and have the world's best/second best player
Netherlands - bit thuggish and were rubbish at the Euros, but still a class act and were WC finalists last time out.

Teams that England are often labelled as not being as good, but in reality England probably deserve to be above right now:
France - head to head, France seem to play better but have now disappointed in too many tournaments to be above England
Sweden - have now lost their last two games head to head


Therefore, I really won't quibble if we are anywhere around the 7th place mark. 4th is ridiculous though. And we'll never get any better than our current position until fundamental grass roots changes are made. This probably applies to football throughout the British Isles in fairness, though obviously the Celtic national sides are not subject to screaming red top headlines about how we'll win this and that tournament - the sort of headline that embarrases most sane, moderately intelligent English football fan.

[Haymaker]

Brazil are 11th yet favourites to win the next world cup...makes sense

They haven't played any competitive games (no qualifiers!) So any wins they have recently arent worth as much as England, Italy, Argentina etc.