Despite losing 3-0 to their arch-rivals in the Copa America this
summer, Argentina have edged out Brazil at the top of the FIFA
World Rankings.
Indeed, much has changed since then, with Argentina picking up a
mammoth 82 points since the September edition of the standings,
while Brazil's improvement of 15 saw them overtake an Italy side
that dropped to third after shipping 101 points.
Elsewhere, Russia were a particularly big winner, rising ten places
to 16th, while England dropped out of the top ten and Ukraine out
of the top 20.
France replaced the Netherlands in the top five as European sides
once again dominate the table in terms of numbers; while the top
two are South American, fully fifteen of the top twenty sides hail
from UEFA.
While the FIFA rankings were formerly a mere curiousity item, they
have recently taken on an extra measure of significance due to the
fact that UEFA nations, and others, are set to use them as the
basis for World Cup 2010 qualification seeding.
As such, the likes of Scotland - who once again moved up one place
to 13th - could be in Pot 2 for the qualifiers, having been in Pot
4 for the Euro 2008 campaign.
1 Argentina 1533 CONMEBOL
2 Brazil 1459 CONMEBOL
3 Italy 1387 UEFA
4 France 1271 UEFA
5 Germany 1245 UEFA
6 Spain 1226 UEFA
7 Netherlands 1207 UEFA
8 Portugal 1203 UEFA
9 Czech Republic 1174 UEFA
10 Croatia 1155 UEFA
11 England 1137 UEFA
12 Romania 1086 UEFA
13 Scotland 1049 UEFA
14 Greece 1034 UEFA
15 Mexico 978 CONCACAF
16 Russia 960 UEFA
.
.
.
140 Singapore 184
