World Ranking

[SkStu]

Tough draw for I fart.

[Gather round]

Tough draw for I fart.

You'd have to fancy Ireland South's Handy-In-Training Eleven though. Especially with the 18 ringers in their squad who've never lived in the country.

Anyway, well done on belatedly rejoining the ranks of the third rate ;)

[BonnieShels]

You'd have to fancy Ireland South's Handy-In-Training Eleven though. Especially with the 18 ringers in their squad who've never lived in the country.

Anyway, well done on belatedly rejoining the ranks of the third rate ;)

People decry the English for harping on about '66.

Will we have to say the same about IFA fans and '16...

Or is there still mileage in Gerry Armstrong and Spain footage?

[Gather round]

People decry the English for harping on about '66.

Will we have to say the same about IFA fans and '16...

Or is there still mileage in Gerry Armstrong and Spain footage?

Morning Bonita. Your post would make more/ any sense had I actually mentioned any NI team in mine.

Do better.

[BonnieShels]

Morning Bonita. Your post would make more/ any sense had I actually mentioned any NI team in mine.

Do better.

Given we are (mostly) adults here is it not reasonable to assume that some of us would read what you wrote and make assumptions; I mean are we not allowed to make inferences.

To congratulate us on "belatedly rejoining the ranks of the third-rate" seems to indicate that:

1. We had ceased to be "third-rate" and are now "third-rate" again as a result of our qualification for Euro 2016. And given how it's been since 2012 I hardly could draw the conclusion that we were "second-rate" until now.

2. By saying "belatedly" it follows that we joined this 'club' after some other teams. Given the team you support qualified for Euro 2016 as winners of their group and had therefore gotten their place before we did it would be reasonable to assume that IFART are in this club and now can be considered also "third-rate". And that you have welcomed Ireland (back) to The Third-Rate Club (TTRC).

3. The sentiment of course while jovial, could easily be construed as being slightly barbed also. Similar to someone shouting "what took you so long" at late-finishers of a race. And as a result of such a comment, I accepted, given, your own form here over the years, that it was so-barbed.

4. In that, I decided to respond to your post as is my wont, and given how little I think of IFART figured it would be best to treat it with some humorous contempt.

In conclusion, IFART fans have the potential to become pretty annoying between now and June. And as I will be heading with a fellow from Larne, I'd wager it could get ever annoying still.

[Crosby87]

Getting back to the Belgians ranking, are we 100% sure that's not the World Waffle Rankings? The WWR, as international waffle competitions are known, is big business.

[Gather round]

Getting back to the Belgians ranking, are we 100% sure that's not the World Waffle Rankings? The WWR, as international waffle competitions are known, is big business.

Gauffre it.

[Wolfman]

More circular fluff.

[DeLorean]

We be 31st and N Ireland will be 30th so all good :)

Good stuff.


Up eleven places to 31st, one place behind Northern Ireland and above the likes of Poland and Sweden. (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1203/750959-republic-close-on-north-in-fifa/)


FIFA World Rankings (http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/)

[Crosby87]

What happened to Sweden? They seem to be in a tailspin.

[BonnieShels]

What happened to Sweden? They seem to be in a tailspin.

???

They're up 10 places?

[DannyInvincible]

We're up to 30th in the rankings now: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0204/765315-ireland-up-to-top-30-in-world-rankings/

That's one place behind NI. Belgium are still first, Italy are 15th and Sweden find themselves in 35th.

[DannyInvincible]

The IFA are sure to be feeling under siege:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaYm8qTWcAIpp77.png

[tetsujin1979]

if we were right behind the ivory coast (or just ahead of them) would the combination of flags be the only palindrome in world football?

[Closed Account]

if we were right behind the ivory coast (or just ahead of them) would the combination of flags be the only palindrome in world football?
Guinea 61st, Mali 68th not too far off.

[Crosby87]

if we were right behind the ivory coast (or just ahead of them) would the combination of flags be the only palindrome in world football?

check out #9.
http://www.sporcle.com/games/JoeNation/similar_flags

[tricky_colour]

if we were right behind the ivory coast (or just ahead of them) would the combination of flags be the only palindrome in world football?

http://www.readingeagle.com/storyimage/RE/20140605/AP/306059918/EP/1/10/EP-306059918.jpg&q=80&MaxW=550&MaxH=400&RCRadius=5

Seems the women support Ireland though :p

[tricky_colour]

Mind you....

https://d13csqd2kn0ewr.cloudfront.net/uploads/image/file/148348/cropped_GettyImages-501168100.jpg?ts=1449988183

[tricky_colour]

Seems a common problem in boxing!

http://m0.joe.ie/YToyOntzOjQ6ImRhdGEiO3M6MTU0OiJhOjM6e3M6MzoidXJsIj tzOjkzOiJodHRwOi8vbWVkaWEtam9lLm1heGltdW1tZWRpYS5p ZS5zMy5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy 8yMDE0LzEwL0thdGllLVRheWxvci5qcGciO3M6NToid2lkdGgi O2k6NjQ3O3M6NjoiaGVpZ2h0IjtpOjM0MDt9IjtzOjQ6Imhhc2 giO3M6NDA6IjY1Njg4MTJlMGQ4NTQ4OTk0ZmZhM2IwMDk2OTdi NmRhZWZkODA4ZmQiO30=/katie-taylor.jpg

A few too many blows to the head!!

[TheBoss]

check out #9.
http://www.sporcle.com/games/JoeNation/similar_flags

Not to be a gloater but I got all of them correct with still 90 seconds to go! I suppose it helps me that I know all of the flags of the world. There actually is a small error in that game, Malawi's flag in that list (second one in group 1) has actually changed back to their previous one before that one. #FlagNerd

[Fixer82]

Not to be a gloater but I got all of them correct with still 90 seconds to go! I suppose it helps me that I know all of the flags of the world. There actually is a small error in that game, Malawi's flag in that list (second one in group 1) has actually changed back to their previous one before that one. #FlagNerd

A strongly worded complaint needs to be lodged post haste!

[Gather round]

Congratulations all on yr surge up the rankings. The Great Powers that are Bosnia and Netherlands well in the sights now.

[Charlie Darwin]

Congratulations all on yr surge up the rankings. The Great Powers that are Bosnia and Netherlands well in the sights now.
Baby steps - we only ever target our next nearest rival. So we have our sights firmly set on the Ivory Coast.

[DannyInvincible]

Seems a common problem in boxing!

http://m0.joe.ie/YToyOntzOjQ6ImRhdGEiO3M6MTU0OiJhOjM6e3M6MzoidXJsIj tzOjkzOiJodHRwOi8vbWVkaWEtam9lLm1heGltdW1tZWRpYS5p ZS5zMy5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy 8yMDE0LzEwL0thdGllLVRheWxvci5qcGciO3M6NToid2lkdGgi O2k6NjQ3O3M6NjoiaGVpZ2h0IjtpOjM0MDt9IjtzOjQ6Imhhc2 giO3M6NDA6IjY1Njg4MTJlMGQ4NTQ4OTk0ZmZhM2IwMDk2OTdi NmRhZWZkODA4ZmQiO30=/katie-taylor.jpg

A few too many blows to the head!!

Remember Linfield FC had to put a sign in their store window on the Shankill Road during the run-up to the 2014 World Cup so as to reassure potential irate customers the display didn't feature an Irish tricolour (despite us not having qualified and, well, the one on display obviously not being our flag)?:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaYuncIWQAQ7Egj.png

[geysir]

Best laugh of the day, Danny.

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0303/772283-republic-of-ireland-stay-on-rise-in-world-rankings/

29th, one place behind the North.

[Closed Account]

Looks like we'll drop a couple of places. A win would have had us in 25th


Rank
Old
Team
Total Points
Previous Points


1
2
ARGArgentina
1532
1457(1456.62)


2
1
BELBelgium
1352
1506(1505.58)


3
5
CHIChile
1348
1307(1307.49)


4
8
COLColombia
1337
1215(1215.28)


5
4
GERGermany
1309
1355(1355.48)


6
3
ESPSpain
1277
1374(1373.71)


7
6
BRABrazil
1251
1254(1254.25)


8
7
PORPortugal
1184
1234(1233.94)


9
11
URUUruguay
1158
1082(1082.47)


10
9
ENGEngland
1069
1112(1111.63)


11
10
AUTAustria
1067
1095(1095.41)


12
13
ECUEcuador
1019
1039(1038.9)


13
20
TURTurkey
983
943(942.97)


14
12
SUISwitzerland
974
1070(1070.02)


15
14
ITAItaly
959
999(999.39)


16
22
MEXMexico
933
902(902.48)


17
15
NEDNetherlands
931
997(997.45)


18
19
HUNHungary
925
951(950.9)


19
16
ROURomania
922
990(990.42)


20
21
BIHBosnia and Herzegovina
913
917(917.4)


21
24
FRAFrance
907
871(871.12)


22
27
UKRUkraine
880
845(844.79)


23
18
CROCroatia
856
965(965.08)


24
17
WALWales
839
984(983.8)


25
33
CRCCosta Rica
826
784(784.47)


26
28
NIRNorthern Ireland
825
833(833.49)


27
31
POLPoland
822
789(789.26)


28
23
RUSRussia
821
892(891.57)


29
25
CZECzech Republic
810
861(861.02)


30
30
USAUSA
810
792(791.89)


31
29
IRLRepublic of Ireland
792
809(809.47)


32
26
SVKSlovakia
784
858(857.52)


33
37
ALGAlgeria
771
743(742.56)


34
36
CIVCôte d'Ivoire
738
744(743.83)


35
38
ISLIceland
724
741(741.41)


36
34
SWESweden
713
769(769.03)


37
39
GREGreece
695
718(718.47)


38
41
GHAGhana
693
656(655.91)


39
43
PARParaguay
690
642(641.93)


40
45
SCOScotland
687
617(617.23)


41
40
DENDenmark
686
706(705.75)


42
44
IRNIran
672
627(626.53)


43
48
SENSenegal
652
603(603.48)


44
35
ALBAlbania
632
754(753.58)


45
42
PERPeru
625
646(646.04)


46
31
CPVCape Verde Islands
620
789(789.38)


47
47
TUNTunisia
620
609(609.22)


48
49
TRITrinidad and Tobago
592
598(598.46)


49
50
SRBSerbia
581
596(595.57)


50
46
FINFinland
558
615(615.27)

[tetsujin1979]

any early word on how the tournament will affect our ranking?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Would the Italy win be cancelled out by the two losses and draw? Should be jumping over Russia at any rate.

[davidatrb]

The other good thing is that our dire results of 4 years ago will now drop off from the calculations too.


Use the Prognosis tool on the FIFA website..



Republic of Ireland
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Current Rank33
P
=
M
*
I
*
T
*
C
FRA2- 1IRL26 JUN 2016
0 0 3 183 0.99
ITA0- 1IRL22 JUN 2016
1675 3 3 188 0.99
BEL3- 0IRL18 JUN 2016
0 0 3 198 0.99
IRL1- 1SWE13 JUN 2016
490 1 3 165 0.99
CURRENT POINTS 768
POSSIBLE RANKING POINTS 843


We should move ahead of Bosnia, Czech, Russia, Costa Rica. So maybe about 29.

Just short of Romania and USA. Will have to watch our backs for Iceland, think we are okay for the moment but they could get a whole lot more points if they beat England.

Probably.

It doesn't really matter though. It's too difficult to keep a valid rankings of teams that only play a dozen times per year and hardly ever play each other competitively (For example how on earth are you supposed to rank Ireland against USA, Costa Rica when the last time Ireland played a competitive game against a non-UEFA team was Saudi Arabia in 2002!?). The FIFA rankings are too sensitive at the moment.

The next time it will matter will be for the drawing of the Pots for the 2018 World Cup - so about Oct 2017 rankings will matter. But only to assign the top seeds the rest of the pots are usually determined geographically ....

[Closed Account]

Up to 26th possibly but Iceland could pass us with a win.



Rank
Team
New


1
ARGArgentina
1585


2

BELBelgium
1455


3

GERGermany
1342


4
COLColombia
1298


5
CHIChile
1276


6

ESPSpain
1205


7
BRABrazil
1156


8

ENGEngland
1140


9

FRAFrance
1138


10
URUUruguay
1130


11

PORPortugal
1124


12

WALWales
1087


13

ITAItaly
1080


14
MEXMexico
1044


15
CROCroatia
1022


16
ECUEcuador
1002


17

POLPoland
974


18
SUISwitzerland
958


19
HUNHungary
915


20
TURTurkey
915


21
AUTAustria
894


22
SVKSlovakia
867


23
ROURomania
856


24
USAUSA
855


25
NEDNetherlands
848


26
IRLRepublic of Ireland
843


27
CRCCosta Rica
840


28

ISLIceland
829


29
NIRNorthern Ireland
822


30
UKRUkraine
801


31
BIHBosnia and Herzegovina
799


32
ALGAlgeria
781


33
PERPeru
765


34
CZECzech Republic
756


35
CIVCôte d'Ivoire
751


36
GHAGhana
749


37
ALBAlbania
739


38
RUSRussia
728


39
IRNIran
674


40
SWESweden
669


41
SENSenegal
651


42
PARParaguay
636


43
EGYEgypt
632


44
DENDenmark
630


45
TUNTunisia
627


46
KORKorea Republic
592


47
SCOScotland
584


48
GREGreece
579


49
JAMJamaica
573


50
CPVCape Verde Islands
545

[davidatrb]

We should move ahead of Bosnia, Czech, Russia, Costa Rica. So maybe about 29.


Thanks for that.

Didn't realise that we would move ahead of Ukraine and N. Ireland too. That's a big drop for Ukraine. Surprised about N. Ireland as they got a win in the tournament too and were already a good 90-ish pts clear of us in the current rankings. Also missed that we jump ahead of Algeria. Algeria had no opportunity for big ranking points scoring like EURO 2016 or Copa America.

How many more wins do Belgium or Germany need to knock Argentina off the top? Or if England win the Euro will they clinch top spot in the FIFA rankings?

Also increasing the size of the Euro competition helps the UEFA teams in general clock up more points, more games, more opportunities.

[swinfordfc]

Think we be actually 31st in my calculations on 800pts on July 14?

[Closed Account]

New Rank
Team
New


1
ARGArgentina
1585


2
BELBelgium
1401


3

GERGermany
1330



4
COLColombia
1298


5
CHIChile
1276


6

WALWales
1182


7
ESPSpain
1165


8
BRABrazil
1156


9

ITAItaly
1155


10
URUUruguay
1130


11

FRAFrance
1124


12

PORPortugal
1121


13
ENGEngland
1107


14
MEXMexico
1044


15
CROCroatia
1022


16
ECUEcuador
1002


17
POLPoland
972


18
SUISwitzerland
958


19
HUNHungary
915


20
TURTurkey
915


21

ISLIceland
901


22
AUTAustria
894


23
SVKSlovakia
867


24
ROURomania
856


25
USAUSA
855


26
NEDNetherlands
848


27
IRLRepublic of Ireland
843


28
CRCCosta Rica
840


29
NIRNorthern Ireland
822


30
UKRUkraine
801


31
BIHBosnia and Herzegovina
799


32
ALGAlgeria
781


33
PERPeru
765


34
CZECzech Republic
756


35
CIVCôte d'Ivoire
751


36
GHAGhana
749


37
ALBAlbania
739


38
RUSRussia
728


39
IRNIran
674


40
SWESweden
669


41
SENSenegal
651


42
PARParaguay
636


43
EGYEgypt
632


44
DENDenmark
630


45
TUNTunisia
627


46
KORKorea Republic
592


47
SCOScotland
584


48
GREGreece
579


49
JAMJamaica
573


50
CPVCape Verde Islands
545

[boysingreen]

July FIFA Ranking Top 20
1. Argentina
2. Belgium
3. Colombia
4. Germany
5. Chile
6. Portugal
7. France
8. Spain
9. Brazil
10. Italy
11. Wales
12. Uruguay
13. England
14. Mexico
15. Croatia
16. Ecuador
17. Poland
18. Switzerland
19= Hungary
19= Turkey

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/post/2910683/portugal-move-up-to-sixth-in-fifa-world-ranking-as-argentina-stay-on-top

Will be published Thursday.

[tetsujin1979]

Think we be actually 31st in my calculations on 800pts on July 14?

correct, 31st in the rankings released today: http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html

Wales 11th
Austria 21st
Serbia 47th
Georgia 118th
Moldova 166th

[paul_oshea]

I don't think Moldova are that bad, nor Georgia nor Serbia. Certainly Moldova have appeared better than 166th in the world.

[DeLorean]

They seem consistently competitive (http://int.soccerway.com/teams/moldova/moldova/1506/) but usually lose so difficult for them to work up ranking points I suppose, the weaker UEFA sides are probably at a big disadvantage here?

They haven't conceded more than two goals in 29 games I make it! That's remarkable really for a team ranked 166th.

[tetsujin1979]

I don't think Moldova are that bad, nor Georgia nor Serbia. Certainly Moldova have appeared better than 166th in the world.
Lost all but two of their qualifiers for Euro 2016, drew away to Liechtenstein and (bizarrely) got a point away to Russia, equalising immediately after conceding a penalty in a 1-1 draw.

[paul_oshea]

A nice mixture of Russian, Italian, and Romanian names there :)

Ya i've noticed in qualifying before they are always only a goal or so away from a great result.

That's a lovely looking small compact stadium. If a LOI club had that now it would provide for a great atmosphere. Looking forward to seeing it now.

[swinfordfc]

Well last night would have not helped us in any way moving upwards!

[DeLorean]

And so it shouldn't! In fact we should be penalised for arranging such a nonsense fixture. :p

[OwlsFan]

And so it shouldn't! In fact we should be penalised for arranging such a nonsense fixture. :p

Money makes the world go round....

[swinfordfc]

Still 31st in the next one .... but have drop points ... into the 700's

[John83]

26th, up ten places year on year in the elo ratings: http://www.eloratings.net/ (I buy these statistically generated rankings way over FIFA's skewed system)

[swinfordfc]

Think we are down to around 34th later this month when they come out!

[Gather round]

26th, up ten places year on year in the elo ratings: http://www.eloratings.net/ (I buy these statistically generated rankings way over FIFA's skewed system)

Both systems are statistically generated and both are skewed. Elo ranks a team that managed a win and a draw in the Euros higher than one which won four games in reaching the semis. It's also fairly pointless including North Cyprus, Greenland etc who don't play in FIFA/ UEFA competitions.

Broadly, FIFA 'rewards' recent good performance, Elo predicts future scores based on every past result ever.

As we've just finished the Euros and the WC qualifiers have just started, the UEFA prize money table is as good as any guide. You're joint 14th in Europe, Wales are 4th.

[pineapple stu]

Elo doesn't base on every past result ever. In an Elo rating, typically only the last 100 results are included; any older results are completely out of the system by then.

I don't know the background behind Portugal and Wales' respective ratings, but it's very trite to suggest that they're wrong purely because of the euros (in which Wales lost two games and Portugal lost none, incidentally). Portugal did better in qualifying than Wales, for example (7-0-1 v 6-3-1). And Portugal reached the 2014 World Cup, whereas Wales were second last in their qualifying group.

[SkStu]

Elo doesn't base on every past result ever. In an Elo rating, typically only the last 100 results are included; any older results are completely out of the system by then.

This information certainly comes out of the blue. Time for us to face the music and ditch this system.

*grabs coat*

[Gather round]

Elo doesn't base on every past result ever. In an Elo rating, typically only the last 100 results are included; any older results are completely out of the system by then

Their website suggests otherwise:


These ratings take into account all international "A" matches for which results could be found. Ratings tend to converge on a team's true strength relative to its competitors after about 30 matches. Ratings for teams with fewer than 30 matches should be considered provisional. Match data are primarily from International Football 1872 -


I don't know the background behind Portugal and Wales' respective ratings, but it's very trite to suggest that they're wrong purely because of the euros

I didn't mention Portugal, the comparison was Wales and Ireland (in direct response to you talking up your own team's rating). Elo slightly overrates you based on recent form (ie the current and most recent tournament) and underrates Wales to a much larger extent. Which doesn't actually give it much credibility as a barometer of recent achievement.

I quoted evidence of Elo's triteness above.