Fifa rankings released

**centre mid** · 04/06/2008, 10:09 AM

Dropped one place to 42nd

**kingdomkerry** · 04/06/2008, 10:15 AM

I guess the only way is up. Some of the teams above us are no where near us. Anyway 42nd is down to bad management. No doubt Trap will bring us back up where we belong.

**youngirish** · 04/06/2008, 10:26 AM

Cue EalingGreen to drill down our throats how great the North are doing.

**Hibernian** · 04/06/2008, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Cue EalingGreen to drill down our throats how great the North are doing.

No good in been in the position they are if there not getting too major championships.

Would not loose my sleep over it one bit.

Rather be 200 in the world and get to South Africa then been in top ten and fail to Qualify.

**Serb** · 04/06/2008, 10:48 AM

I agree with the sentiment Hibernian, but the fact is, the higher our ranking, the higher seed we are going to be for our qualification groups, so it does have a direct impact on the chances of us getting to tournaments. Hopefully we can improve our rank significantly over the coming qualifying campaign (a win over Italy would certainly help :P).

**tetsujin1979** · 04/06/2008, 11:00 AM

With few teams below us competing in Euro 2008, we're not going to fall too far in the next few months, by comparison I'd imagine England will drop to 13th after the Championships end

**saint morrissey** · 04/06/2008, 11:42 AM

anyone care to explain how argentina are top for the last year or so having not got past a world cup quarter final since 1990 and not won the copa america since 1993? i think its fair to say the rankings in general are pretty flawed.

**youngirish** · 04/06/2008, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by saint morrissey

anyone care to explain how argentina are top for the last year or so having not got past a world cup quarter final since 1990 and not won the copa america since 1993? i think its fair to say the rankings in general are pretty flawed.

I agree the rankings are pure drivel. The method for calculating them could best be described as flawed and at worst wholly inaccurate. Also FIFA seem to alter the way they're calculated and what matches are actually used to calculate them every few years which futher undermines any confidence I may have had in them.

Performances in the World Cup Finals and the various International tournaments hosted by the different football associations on the four main footballing continents (Europe , South America, Africa and Asia) are the only way to judge the relative merits and weaknesses of teams imo. Some friendly wins at high altitude in South America with both teams playing their reserve sides should definitely not be given any credence.

**kingdomkerry** · 04/06/2008, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Serb

I agree with the sentiment Hibernian, but the fact is, the higher our ranking, the higher seed we are going to be for our qualification groups, so it does have a direct impact on the chances of us getting to tournaments. Hopefully we can improve our rank significantly over the coming qualifying campaign (a win over Italy would certainly help :P).

I dont think there is much of a difference being 2nd seed or 3rd seeds as the 2nd and 3rd seeds are more or less the same standard anyway. Obviously it would be great to be top seeds as you would avoid the big guns in the qualifying campaign. Last time we were top seeds we got Russia and Switzerland and still did'nt qualify.

**gspain** · 04/06/2008, 12:48 PM

Although I agree that the rankings are flawed we can't really argue with our current position. We haven't beaten a decent team in a competitive match in 7 years.

**TheBoss** · 04/06/2008, 1:11 PM

We play Serbia(31st) and Colombia(19th) at the time and yet, we do not lose to them, we beat a team in 19th and yet we still go down and North play no one again and seem to be going up every ranking.

**amaccann** · 04/06/2008, 1:18 PM

I think the last group of rankings updates is based on a larger time period, no?

**eekers** · 04/06/2008, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

I agree the rankings are pure drivel. The method for calculating them could best be described as flawed and at worst wholly inaccurate. Also FIFA seem to alter the way they're calculated and what matches are actually used to calculate them every few years which futher undermines any confidence I may have had in them.

Performances in the World Cup Finals and the various International tournaments hosted by the different football associations on the four main footballing continents (Europe , South America, Africa and Asia) are the only way to judge the relative merits and weaknesses of teams imo. Some friendly wins at high altitude in South America with both teams playing their reserve sides should definitely not be given any credence.

i'd agree the old ranking system was a balls (czechs and usa constantly being in the top 10 etc). but the new rankings seem to give a pretty accurate respresentation. friendly wins are worth a lot less than competitve matches for instance.

Ireland will go up in rankings the further when those 4 loses in a row in 2006 (chile, holland germany, cyprus) are weighted less.
Fifa ranking will be used in part to work out the seeding for the groups in south africa 2010 (if we qualify). However uefa have recently come up with their own rankings for seedings for uefa european championships. the new uefa system disregards friendlies.

**irishultra** · 04/06/2008, 2:30 PM

According to ELO, we are 30th, ahead of Scotland, Ivory Coast and Serbia.

**kingdomkerry** · 04/06/2008, 5:10 PM

Whats ELO?

**centre mid** · 04/06/2008, 9:54 PM

Whats ELO?

An early 90's band, a reincarnation of biggles of "video killed the radio star" fame

**pineapple stu** · 04/06/2008, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

Whats ELO?

It's an alternative rating based on a statistical formula, similar to how chess ratings are calculated. Devised by Professor Elo. Though I don't think it weights competitions and friendlies.

Edit - it does, apologies.

**SilkCut** · 04/06/2008, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

Although I agree that the rankings are flawed we can't really argue with our current position. We haven't beaten a decent team in a competitive match in 7 years.

Exactly. We just about beat San Marino and got our arses handed to us by Cyprus, we are lucky we are in the top 100 let alone top 50. Good news is we can only improve!!!

**Edgar** · 27/06/2008, 9:52 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

With few teams below us competing in Euro 2008, we're not going to fall too far in the next few months, by comparison I'd imagine England will drop to 13th after the Championships end

More like 15th.

Originally Posted by saint morrissey

anyone care to explain how argentina are top for the last year or so having not got past a world cup quarter final since 1990 and not won the copa america since 1993? i think its fair to say the rankings in general are pretty flawed.

They will drop to 6th in July.

Probable top 50 -> link.