The new FIFA rankings include:
1 – France
2 – Brazil
3 – Argentina
4 – Italy
5 – Portugal
6 – Spain
7 - Colombia
8 – Holland
9 – England
10 – Mexico
<snip>
19 – USA
21 – Rep. Ireland
48 – Scotland
97 – N. Ireland
105 – Wales
Personally, I see England pretty much on a par with 4, 5 and 6 at the moment – any thoughts ?
How about Saturday ? No Owen – Fowler instead ?
I’d have to agree that England would have nothing to fear from 4, 5 or 6. On a good day they could beat anybody in the top 10. But why, oh why, are Ireland below the USA in the FIFA rankings. What have the USA done to deserve a higher ranking? I’m assuming they didnt include our recent fantastic victory over Holland when they did the rankings.
Typical American - I don’t follow SOCCER all that much (just did that to be mean). Got a heavy dose of it when I visited Brazil recently, though. (Where they still haven’t gotten over that loss to Argentina.)
But bryan … while the US team has been sucking of late, they were beating everybody early on, were they not?
Its football not soccer. And I just did that because its correct 
And the rankings still dont make sense. USA are fourth in a poor group. Ireland are on the verge of qualifying from a group that has two teams in the top ten.
USA have been dropping like a stone in that poll. They were up to at least 15, maybe as high as 12 or 13. But it’s a strange ranking system, which takes into account results going back many years. Right now they really do deserve to be lower. They probably won’t qualify for the World Cup without Reyna at mid-field. So much for my tickets which I got the other day 
That said, has England beaten a good, quality side lately? And please don’t tell me Germany, they seem to be over their little jolt they got when they added Rudi as their manager. They still were dismal back in Euro 2000 which is taken into account in this ranking system.
I do agree the ranking system is a little obscure but I think they have a problem: All the competitive matches take place in qualifying or in either the World Cup Finals themselves or the regional competitions like Euro2000 – your competition (and therefore ranking) is pretty much determined by who else is in your qualifying Group(s) for about 3 years 9 months in any four year cycle.
Don’t know what the answer is. Probably to ignore rankings like these
ShibbOleth - Yep, Germany aren’t waht they were by a very long way. But to beat any team 5-1 away from home in a World Cup qualifier ain’t no small potatoes, IMHO.
L_C, not quite true about the high score away from home thingy. After all, to beat the Faroe Islands 5-1 away from home isnt that much of an achievement.
The US play more internationals than their European counterparts against weaker teams. That isnt to detract from the US’s position, but I take the world rankings with a pinch of salt.
As for Ireland in 19th, We’re unbeaten in our group, about to put up one of the highest points totals in a qualifying group and are still going to qualify second, unless Portugal lose to Estonia and we beat Cyprus on Sunday.
and a quick second on the German team. (sorry jarbaby ;))
They suck. they suck-diddly-uck-uck-uck. After they conceeded the first goal against England, it was as if the defense walked off the pitch to watch Baywatch Nights.
England played well that night, but it was as easy for them to score as it is to depress a teenager.
You suck German National Football Team, you suck.
I’d like to see Sheringham - Phillips for England, but since the latter wasn’t picked, how about Sheringham - Fowler, with Heskey at left midfield?
Players I’d like to see play more for England:
> Danny Mills: complete psychopath, which is a huge liability, but still more talented than either Neville brother.
> Alan Thompson: given the paucity of left-sided players, why hasn’t he been selected?
> Lee Hendre: why not?
> Darius Vassell: subs’ bench
'Cause he’s rubbish.
Really sucks about Holland.
But what’s the deal with these rumors that Rangers head Dick Advocaat might be replacing Louis van Gaal? Is this stuff for real?
Really? I’d heard he was doing pretty well. Ah well, back to the (ack…Stuart Ripley) drawing board.
No, I’m afraid he is The Weakest Link.
BTW ShibbOleth, Reyna’s back for Saturday’s game.
I think the English squad has some great players, too, but friggin’ Houllier does’t think they have enough. From the Daily Express:
He says they are too young and too inexperienced.
<shrug>
There’s always rumours when a team fucks up collectively, like Holland did. But if I were Advokaat, I’d stay in Glasgow.
Guys (and ruadh ;)), this thread reminds me of how hard next summer is gonna be. We’re not there.
A World Cup without the Orange team. I mean, DAMN.
Englands chances are good. But I am rooting for the Irish team now, for obvious reasons. They kicked us out fair and square, and deserve a good result (at least a quarter or half final) on stamina and team spirit alone.
And yes, of course the German squad sucks Arsch.
It takes several player generations to build up the skill and experience of coaching staff, league match standards, academy structures and finally the actual players.
I think that England are now on the verge of becoming a genuinely potent world footballing force are not quite there yet.
The Lee Bowyer trial has cost England IMHO as there is no way he could be selected for the national team whilst that is still hanging over him. I reckon he is a future England player but that might depend on the outcome of the trial.
Coldie – It’s a terrible shame and the World Cup won’t be the same without the boys in Orange. I’m really very sad about that.
But the Oirish being there is some compensation – always like to see the Premiership B Team getting a run out…
Is it too late for Ryan Giggs ? …bugger it.
I agree Danny Mills is interesting but where the hell do you play him ? On the other hand, I do think Lee Bowyer’s absence is a great loss – he’d offer a great option England really need… At least the re-trial is underway…
As for upfront, I’ve developed a terrible phobia for old-fashioned forwards. Nothing scares me more than static English forwards standing around waiting for the cross to come in and that can happen all too easily with 4-4-2. I much, much prefer – we probably all do - the dynamism and creativity of quality link play.
So many options… One out-an-out forward with Sherringham ? - or, much more controversially, pushing Scholes forward into that position and bringing in …Joe Cole ? (Hey, I can’t help it ! It’s in the Tottenham tradition…)
Looks like it’s be a straight swap, though. Fowler for Owen. Sounds reasonable.
Starting to get nervous
Prediction: 2 – 0 after 60 minutes, then anything or nothing…
Joe Cole: crap this season, but potentially fantastic.
Danny Mills: right back in a 4-4-2