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Scotland drop to 17th in FIFA rankings



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Published Date: 04 June 2008
SCOTLAND have dropped two places to 17th in the FIFA world rankings, following their failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and last week's defeat to the Czech Republic.
Scotland shot up the rankings from 88th to 13th during their valiant Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which saw them record a stunning win against France last year.

But with no competitive games to look forward to, George Burley's side look set to slide further down the world football scale.

England have returned to the top 10, climbing two places to ninth after last week's victories over the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

But Fabio Capello's side are unlikely to stay there with the three sides directly behind them – Holland, Portugal and Romania – all having qualified for Euro 2008.

Northern Ireland are up two in 32nd, 10 places ahead of the Republic of Ireland, who fall one spot. Wales are also down one in 53rd.

Argentina have extended their lead over Brazil at the top of the rankings while world champions Italy, in third, will be the highest-ranked team at the European Championships.

The newly published top 10 stands as follows:

1. Argentina (1), 1,559 points
2. Brazil (2), 1,513
3. Italy (3), 1,424
4. Spain (4), 1,303
5. Germany (5), 1,274
6. Czech Republic (6), 1,246
7. France (7), 1,143
8. Greece (8), 1,133
9. England (11), 1,123
10. Netherlands (10), 1,111

(17. Scotland (15), 978.)

• The full rankings are available on the FIFA website.

• How are the FIFA rankings calculated?

The world football governing body have their own guide and a Frequently Asked Questions document. (links open as PDFs)

The full article contains 286 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Johnny Jambo,

04/06/2008 12:57:52
England placed higher than the Netherlands, thats a bit of a surprise to me.
2

Montford's Jaicket,

04/06/2008 13:07:21
Probably computed by the same machine that does the SPL fixtures...
3

Montford's Jaicket,

04/06/2008 13:11:46
Of note is the fact that we are not aware, before any fixture, of the relative importance of that game. Can anybody say, with accuracy, how these points are made up... or are they just made up?
If they have any basis in fact, surely some bright journo would, by now, be declaring "tonight's game with Whoeveristan is worth 15 points to Scotland if we win." Never seen that done - but it must be possible... unless these are simply somebody at FIFA's pet set of numbers.
Publish their basis - and let us see in advance how many points stand to be won or lost!
4

Mr Custard,

Edinburgh 04/06/2008 16:03:35
#1 Not really. THe Netherlands have done nothing of note and were extremely lucky to qualify for Euro 2008. That's not to say that England deserve to be that high; far from it.

The Dutchies will do well if they get out of their group this year. Can't see it happening though.
5

Bemused and above it all,

04/06/2008 16:27:25
Wouldnt be surprised to see Russia up in the top ten soon, been sleeping giants for quite a bit now
6

Alan B,

04/06/2008 16:31:30
Bit weird england seem to have gone up in the rankings after failing to qualify. Was not like their euro group qualifiers were particularly hard.

7

Alan B,

04/06/2008 16:33:12
It is also abit daft having friendlies counting towards the rankings.
8

The Equaliser,

04/06/2008 18:23:15
We will rise once more and be a top 10 nation again once the Rangers boys return from injury and exhaustion to bolster the squad.

Irrespective of partisan thoughts we are a small nation that needs its best players to be fit, well and available to play.
9

Pattie O'Dores,

In The Conservatory 04/06/2008 21:46:00
*8
If we have to wait until 'the Rangers boys return from injury and exhaustion' (otherwise known as disappointment) then I won't hold my breath!
10

Phil Lawrence,

Tallinn 05/06/2008 10:11:19
#3 You are quite right. Why indeed do sports writers not work out these facts? A guy who I know (Scottish BTW) regularly extrapolates info on the exact basis of the FIFA formula. It's not rocket science to work out which results are set to slip off the end of a country's record and how upcoming games can impact on the rankings.

Maybe some of the so-called journalists in the Scottish press should stop spinning stories out of pure speculation and start to report what can be scientifically proven. No, that's too much to ask - nothing scientific about Gretna, Vladimir Romanov or the Old Firm!
11

Waspy100,

06/06/2008 22:12:42
Well I always did say the number after 12 was unlucky.
Seb Blatter did that on purpose.
As the old? saying goes
"Never trust a frog unless you are eating its legs" Waspy circa June 06 2007
This saying is now copywrite unless proven otherwise and if printed in another form all donations should be sent to the Helen and Douglas House hospice in Oxford.

Slainte
waspy

 

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