The Top 10
The most significant changes to the Top 10 have been the decline of Italy and the rise of Chile. Italy have dropped from number one back in June 2008 to their current position of sixth. They failed at Euro 2008, losing to Spain in the quarter-finals, and have suffered four defeats since; twice in the Confederations Cup (Egypt and Brazil) and a couple of friendlies (Brazil and Mexico). Chile have risen 16 places to seventh thanks to a successful World Cup qualifying campaign when they finished a point behind Brazil with seven wins in 12 matches against Top 15 teams and three of those on the road. England have also risen from eighth to fourth having won 15 of their 19 matches with two of their three defeats a friendly against the top two ranked teams, Brazil and Spain. Argentina have swapped positions with England because they lost five of their qualifiers including a 6-1 hammering away to 49th ranked Bolivia.
11-20
Serbia are the greatest movers in this group, jumping from 41st two years ago to their current position of 15th. They lost a meaningless qualifier to Lithuania, another to France and three friendlies but otherwise won 16/23 including six on the road which always helps a team’s ranking. The USA are another significant mover, rising from 20th to 12th and they’ve also played more games than most in the period (40) with some notable victories - Spain in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup and Honduras twice away. However, they have lost five of their last eight (all friendlies) and lost 5-0 against Mexico at home in the 2009 Final Gold Cup.
21-50
Although Ivory Coast only reached the quarter-finals of the recent Africa Cup of Nations when they were expected to do much better, since June 2008, they haven’t lost a match in normal time and that’s why they’ve moved from 32 to 21. They haven’t played that many competitive matches against decent teams but have drawn three friendlies (none at home) against Top 20 teams. Honduras have risen 15 places to 28th and like the Americans have played more matches than most (39) reaching the semi-finals of the Gold Cup (lost to USA), twice beating Mexico at home in WC qualifiers and defeating Chile and the USA away in friendlies.
Australia moved from the Oceania to AFC region to play more competitive matches and that has had a positive effect moving them 15 places up to 30th which is what you’d expect for a World Cup Finals qualifier ranked as they were at the start of qualifying. They did beat the Netherlands away in a friendly and also drew with them on home soil; otherwise they’ve mostly played teams ranked closer to a 100 than 50. Slovenia are the biggest risers in this ranking group, moving from 82nd to 34th despite losing seven of their 22 matches in the period. Doubling fellow qualifiers, Slovakia, in a group that included the Czech Republic and then overcoming 14th ranked Russia in the play-off is the reason they’ve risen so high. Despite losing those qualifiers, Slovakia have moved up 17 places from 54 because they won the qualifying group and took four points off the Czech Republic including three away. They’ve lost all three friendlies against Top 20 teams.
The team that has suffered most are Ghana who have fallen from 27th to 45th despite reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. The reason they’ve lost their previous high rank, which was built on the back of a successful World Cup four years ago, is that they lost some qualifiers against poor teams – Gabon, Libya and Benin. Furthermore, after losing to Ivory Coast in the group stage in the Africa Cup of Nations, their progress to the semi-finals (beat Nigeria) was against relatively lowly opposition.
51+
Two years ago, Algeria were ranked 102 and now they’re reached a lofty 52, thanks to the fact they’ve lost only seven of the 25 matches they’ve played. Notable victims have included Egypt, The Africa Cup of Nations winners, twice in qualifying; Uruguay in a home friendly and Nigeria in the 3rd/4th place play-off for the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite qualifying for their first World Cup (via a play-off against Bahrain), New Zealand have dropped 13 places. The Kiwis have won only six of their 18 matches in the period even though half their opponents have been of inferior rank. South Africa, risers by 24 places, have played more matches in the past two years than any of the other teams (43) but few competitive matches. They haven’t lost any of their last 13 (all friendlies) beating Denmark and Colombia at home and drawing in Paraguay.