FIFA
00sabato 28 ottobre 2006 22:27
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
World champions closing in on Brazil
Italy's Daniele De Rossi (R) is congratulated by team mates after scoring against Georgia during their Euro 2008 Group B qualifying soccer match in Tbilisi October 11, 2006.
(REUTERS) David Mdzinarishvili
(FIFA.com) 18 Oct 2006
Several confederation competitions are leaving a deep impression on the October FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Although Brazil are hanging on to top place, world champions Italy (up 3) are hot on their heels, having gained 66 impressive points since September. Germany (6th, up 2) and Greece (14th, up 8), both of whom, like Italy, have won their recent EURO qualifying matches, are also flying high.
There are also some conquering heroes halfway down the ranking. Mali (41st, up 19) and Northern Ireland (45th, up 13) have now returned to the top 50 after a long absence. Mali have never had it so good as in the October FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, whereas the last time Northern Ireland breathed top 50 air was over ten years ago.
Several other teams have jumped up at least thirty places, including Burkina Faso (64th, up 33), Cape Verde Islands (83rd, up 30), Haiti (83rd, up 35), St Vincent and the Grenadines (85th, up 44), and Barbados (100th, up 52).
Of the 125 international matches played last month, 96 were confederation championship qualifiers: UEFA (44 matches), CONCACAF (19), AFC (11) and CAF (22). Twenty-nine friendlies were also contested.
- The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 22 November 2006.
September 2006 WORLD RANK
1 Brazil 1560 -14
2 Italy 1540 +66
3 France 1483 -51
4 Argentina 1446 -46
5 England 1370 -107
6 Germany 1339 +48
7 Netherlands 1313 -14
8 Czech Republic 1253 -59
9 Portugal 1224 -48
10 Spain 1198 -57
11 Nigeria 1139 -27
12 Cameroon 1110 +48
13 Ukraine 1054 +25
14 Greece 979 +146
15 Switzerland 978 -38
16 Sweden 975 +87
17 Uruguay 903 -57
18 Côte d'Ivoire 893 +14
19 Mexico 882 -9
19 Croatia 882 +57
IloveSIMON
00domenica 29 ottobre 2006 17:14