US ranked all time high 7th in FIFA Rankings.

[wilheim]

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- The United States advanced to an all-time high No. 7 in FIFA's rankings Wednesday while Greece jumped 21 spots to No. 14 after its dazzling run to the European Championship title.

Brazil remained No. 1 for the 25th straight month, and France and Spain stayed at second and third.

The United States twice had climbed as high as eighth -- in September 2002 and again in May. The Americans beat Grenada in a home-and-home series in June to reach the semifinals of World Cup qualifying in its region of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Greece was ranked as low as 59th as recently as March 2002. It climbed ``possibly the greatest ever number of places in the upper reaches of the ranking,'' soccer's governing body said.

Its 1-0 victory over Portugal on Sunday in the Euro 2004 final gave Greece its first major title.

The rankings are a computer calculation of the relative strength of national teams based on results the previous eight years.

The Czech Republic, which lost to Greece in the Euro 2004 semifinals, advanced seven spots to fourth. Germany, which did not win a game at Euro 2004, dropped to 12th, tied with Portugal.

The Netherlands, which reached the Euro semis, remained fifth while Mexico dropped two places to sixth.

England, beaten by Portugal in the Euro quarters, returned to the top 10 after a two-month absence. The English moved up five places to eighth and were followed by Italy and Turkey.

Argentina, which had gone winless in three games before a 2-1 victory over Peru on July 1, dropped six places to 11th.

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[JackDee]

"The United States twice had climbed as high as eighth -- in September 2002 and again in May. The Americans beat Grenada in a home-and-home series in June to reach the semifinals of World Cup qualifying in its region of North and Central America and the Caribbean. "

the u.s. in nowhere near the 7th position they hold right now, fifa rankings are a joke, they are slanted and bear little or no resemblance to reality, teams competing with much lesser opponents such as mexico or u.s. get points for nothing. And where the fvck is grenada?

 

[chriscol]

who cares??

 

[JackDee]

well said.

 

[WildBill]

Man what does this team need to do to get any respect? I agree the FIFA rankings aren't the most accurate way to judge teams, but this US team is very good and if the world continues to underrate them they will do very well. Mexico finally respects the US team, well you know how that is they hate you means they respect you.

If the US makes it to the final 8 or better again in the next World Cup, will the team finally earn some much deserved respect or will Jack still call it a fluke?

 

[Brazil4Worldcup2002]

I got a headline for you:


"US ranked all time high 7th in FIFA Rankings...." and Americans still rather watch baseball.

 

[MariaSharapova]

these ranking are an utter joke!!

For example Liechtenstein is ranked 153rd.we've
lost 5 spots this year.What the phuck!!!

I looked at the equations fifa uses and
it definitely doesn't fairly account for
the depth of competitive talent amongst
the european countries.
Mexico 6th. Puhlezzzze!!!

ciao,have to sort out the flood of commercial
endorsements being thrown at me.

 

[BoratSagdiyev]

WOW you've got to be shitting me. Hardly sounds like a fair fight.
Grenada has a population of about 97,900
The U.S is at 293,684,884.
Nice.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JackDee:
"The United States twice had climbed as high as eighth -- in September 2002 and again in May. The Americans beat Grenada in a home-and-home series in June to reach the semifinals of World Cup qualifying in its region of North and Central America and the Caribbean. "

the u.s. in nowhere near the 7th position they hold right now, fifa rankings are a joke, they are slanted and bear little or no resemblance to reality, teams competing with much lesser opponents such as mexico or u.s. get points for nothing. And where the fvck is grenada?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[WildBill]

Mexico and the US can compete with anyone. Europeans don't want to play others, just each other except when they must. The US has been trying to get England for years to play a friendly and they have refused. Mexico has been trying to get European teams to agree to play and all but the bottom teams refuse. It was a major bit of work just to get Bulgaria to come to Mexico. And the dumbest of all comments, someone asked Holland why they wouldn't play Mexico and someone in their organization said it was too unsafe to go to Mexico. He obviously didn't realize Mexico plays almost all of its non-qualifying matches in the US. Its simple, the rest of the world doesn't respect this part of the world and that is fine with us all. American and Mexican players are finding more spots on top European teams. Almost every player that starts for both countries could start in Europe, but the respective leagues are trying to keep as many players home as they can.

As for Grenada, that was a joke. They used to never have that round but all the little guys complained they didn't get their chance at glory. So teams like Dominica and Grenada got their chance to play in games they had no chance of winning. So be it, it isn't much different when European squads in qualifying take on world powers such as Faroe Islands or Malta now is it?

 

[newbie666]

WHAT A JOKE!!!

 

[slickwillie]

did any of you european jackasses happen to see the 2002 world cup quarter final match between the us and germany? and do you remember the brilliant scottish referee, hugh dallas? and don't forget that the us has beaten BRAZIL once or twice in international matches, which not too many of you europeeing pigs have done recently; let me refresh your memory:

http://worldcup.espnsoccernet.com/report?match=48865&lang=us

 

[JackDee]

thanks for the "jackasses" and "pigs" comments willie, classy.

I am not saying the u.s. team is not a half decent squad, nor calling their results a "fluke". What i am saying is that uefa rankings come nowhere near in terms of telling the objective truth, which is actually what everyone's been saying here, and like maria pointed out mexico in 6th place...well give me a break.

High ranking european teams snob mexico and the u.s. as much as they do other lower ranking european teams. And while malta might not be a world power, it's certainly far better than Grenada. And why would the u.s. advance to the 7th position, for winning jamaica over the past few months? Come on....

[This message was edited by JackDee on July 09, 2004 at 06:50 AM.]

 

[MariaSharapova]

what would a friendly prove anyhow?! Best players usually rested,coach experiments
with tactics etc.
If the Los angeles Lakers lost to a spanish
basketball club(say real madrid) in an exhibition game,does
one really think that Madrid has a superior squad to
the Lakers?? No,the Lakers(or any nba team)are there
for publicity/marketing reasons,and don't(for very good
reasons)play anywhere close to the best of their ability.

 

[WildBill]

The rankings make sense from the standpoint that they are 8 years of results. The US was not nearly the quality of team they are now 8 years ago. I would say for the next few years chances are this computer will continue to upgrade the US as old results fall off and new results come in. The US didn't do that great in qualifying for WC 1998 and obviously the Cup itself was a disaster, so if anything their rankings probably will move up.

In a good note they did get Poland to agree to a home/away series, which is completed on Sunday. Arena is bringing a pretty solid squad for this one, surprisingly so since it is MLS season and he is using a lot of MLS players for an exhibition. After that you guys are going to get to cry out some more as the next round of qualifying is Jamaica, Haiti, and Panama...not exactly murderers row for the US. Out of the 18 possible points, they probably will end up with something between 14 and 18.

 

[MariaSharapova]

The United States having more players in top Euro domestic Leagues
may not yield more impressive results come world cup 2006.
the one advantage usa had in last world cup is that their
players were very fresh and relatively free of small injuries
compared to other euro squads,brazil etc.The world cup comes
very soon after the end of the long domestic season in europe,
whereas the american team has barely started their MLS.
If top american players are playing all season in euro
domestic leagues,some of them are bound to come up with
injuries that may compromise their play come world cup
time.
Ciao from maria,aren't i brilliant