FIFA World Rankings

[Posh Hammer]

Wales into the top 10 in the world for the first time in their history, above Spain

England one place above them in ninth.

I like seeing Wales do well, but that ranking may be a little too high!

Top 10:

1. Argentina
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. Colombia
5. Holland
6. Brazil
7. Portugal
8. Romania
9. England
10. Wales
------------------------
11. Chile
12. Spain
13. Uruguay
14. Croatia
15. Slovakia
16. Austria
17. Italy
18. Switzerland
19. Algeria
20. Czech Republic
---------------------------
21. Ivory Coast
22. France
23. Iceland
24. Denmark
25. Ghana
26. Bosnia & H
27. Ukraine
28. Russia
29. Scotland
30. Poland
--------------------------
37. Northern Ireland
52. Republic of Ireland

 

[Whitechapel]

Romania

Spain have won the World Cup and Euros in recent years, and when did Wales last qualify?

The system needs an overhaul.

 

[HarvSFC]

Also notice that Germany are second to the team they beat in the final a year a go.

 

[Cardsfan]

Not sure why anyone's surprised, the rankings have always been a joke.

 

[hodge]

Romania too easy for teams to go up and down quickly as evidenced by Wales and Romania being above Spain, France and Italy.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well it is of course a clear case of Corruption on Blatter yet again.

Of course we all know Wales have been chucking them bribes about to get themselves into the top 10.

 

[hodge]

Its all a fix to get Bale's country in the top 10....

 

[The Iron]

Wales above Spain

 

[mnb089mnb]

Rankings are weighted to mean that last 12 months mean a lot more than the years before that. Very few sides have had results as good as Wales in that period.

 

[voltage]

Not sure why anyone's surprised, the rankings have always been a joke.

Exactly this ^.

 

[mnb089mnb]

Also notice that Germany are second to the team they beat in the final a year a go.

Argentina have just played in the Copa America and reached the final. Continental competitions being played at different times always skews the rankings a bit.

I prefer the ELO Rankings myself - the same system women's football uses. They seem much preferable to the way FIFA do it for the men's game.

Romania and Wales have been canny regarding the friendlies they've arranged in the last year (none!)

 

[mnb089mnb]

FIFA Rankings are based a lot on current form. Compare Wales' last 12 months results to France or Spain's. Wales' results have been better.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

How are Romania and Wales better than France, Spain, Uruguay, Chile or even Italy?!

 

[mnb089mnb]

How are Romania and Wales better than France, Spain, Uruguay, Chile or even Italy?!

Have a look at the results of the sides in the past twelve months. e.g. (France lost to Belgium before Wales beat Belgium and then followed it up by losing in Tirana....) Wales have had better results than all of those sides. They've also not played friendlies that can suck the life out of your points if you've had good competitive results.

Romania have deliberately avoided playing friendlies in order to secure their Pot 1 status, I get the feeling Wales have too - they 'cancelled' a friendly with Northern Ireland running up to the Belgium game.

Wales and Romania will be Pot 1 sides for the World Cup draw. But that's not too ridiculous when both sides are comfortably top of their Euro groups.

Disclaimer: I think ELO Rankings are better.

 

[Alty]

Have a look at the results of the sides in the past twelve months. e.g. (France lost to Belgium before Wales beat Belgium and then followed it up by losing in Tirana....) Wales have had better results than all of those sides. They've also not played friendlies that can suck the life out of your points if you've had good competitive results.

Romania have deliberately avoided playing friendlies in order to secure their Pot 1 status, I get the feeling Wales have too - they 'cancelled' a friendly with Northern Ireland running up to the Belgium game.

Wales and Romania will be Pot 1 sides for the World Cup draw. But that's not too ridiculous when both sides are comfortably top of their Euro groups.

Disclaimer: I think ELO Rankings are better.

Why do friendly results have such an effect? Surely there are more ranking points at stake during competitive fixtures?

 

[chairboyexile]

Could FIFA to a most corrupt offical top 10 that I would like to see

 

[mente captus]

England becomes 9th without winning a ko-stage match since 2006 and they will close the gap to germany in the August ranking while we made 2 finals and three semi-finals since then

 

[mistermagic]

Also notice that Germany are second to the team they beat in the final a year a go.

Germany have been shit since the World Cup though. Argentina have not.

Have a look at the results of the sides in the past twelve months. e.g. (France lost to Belgium before Wales beat Belgium and then followed it up by losing in Tirana....) Wales have had better results than all of those sides. They've also not played friendlies that can suck the life out of your points if you've had good competitive results.

Romania have deliberately avoided playing friendlies in order to secure their Pot 1 status, I get the feeling Wales have too - they 'cancelled' a friendly with Northern Ireland running up to the Belgium game.

Wales and Romania will be Pot 1 sides for the World Cup draw. But that's not too ridiculous when both sides are comfortably top of their Euro groups.

Disclaimer: I think ELO Rankings are better.

Euros morelike.

 

[mnb089mnb]

Wales will be seeded first for the World Cup qualification draw.

If Wales qualify for Euro 2016 they'll probably be in Pot 4 due to the different ways things are calculated for finals.

 

[ArmchairDiehard]

When is the draw? Later this month isn't it?

 

[DarkSithLord]

25th July I think

 

[hodge]

Potentially have to face Italy or France

 

[mente captus]

England now 8th, Wales 9th

dont know what the bigger joke is

 

[HarvSFC]

Wales are 9th and England are 10th.

 

[Benji]

Finally recognised as being better than England. Better flag, better football.

 

[JimJams]

It's not really saying a lot these days. I mean it wasn't saying much in years gone by, but now? Fuck me sideways.

 

[Mustard]

Abertawe is gonna drown in a pool of his own semen when he sees this.

 

[GodsGift]

It's hard not to say this without sounding incredibly patronising but I'm glad to see Wales ranked so highly, I want them to do well.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Personally I'm enjoying looking down on little old England. And to think 4 years ago we were 117th

 

[Super_horns]

Wales could be 2nd in a month or two if results go their way!