Germany, 2nd in FIFA world ranking

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The ranking has been updated as of 4 June 2008.
Germany is still in the 5th place.

1 Argentina 1559
2 Brazil 1513
3 Italy 1424
4 Spain 1303
5 Germany 1274
6 Czech Republic 1246
7 France 1143
8 Greece 1133
9 England 1123
10 Netherlands 1111

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The ranking has been updated as of 2 July 2008.
Good news! Germany have moved up two places, and now are ranked 3rd.

1 Spain 1557
2 Italy 1404
3 Germany 1364
4 Brazil 1344
5 Netherlands 1299
6 Argentina 1298
7 Croatia 1282
8 Czech Republic 1146
9 Portugal 1104
10 France 1053

[__-SNAKE-__]

Just 20 points infront of Brazil...that wont last since Brazil have qualifiers of the wc.

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^ Germany has some friendlies coming up though, and also the WC2010 qualifiers.

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MAGATH: GERMANY ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath believes Germany deserve to be on top of the world rankings after reaching the final of Euro 2008.

Magath, has twice been named Bundesliga manager of the year in 2005 and 2006, saw with admiration the way Joachim Low's side progressed to the final in Austria and Switzerland, where they were beaten by Spain.

And he feels their consistency should be rewarded with a place at the top of the FIFA rankings.

"When, after finishing third at the 2006 World Cup, you finish so high up again, then you have got to be on top of the world," he told delegates at the 51st International Coaching Congress in Wiesbaden on Monday.

"Football is played differently in every country and Germany may not always play the best football, but they do play the most successful."

Magath himself has earned praise for the way in which he has turned around the fortunes of Wolfsburg in just 12 months.

After winning a league and cup double twice with Bayern, Magath was tempted back into management at the northern Germany club and led them into the UEFA Cup at the first attempt last season.

SportingLife.com

[Dragoen]

1 Spain 1557
2 Germany 1343
3 Italy 1320
4 Netherlands 1299
5 Croatia 1282
6 Brazil 1242
7 Argentina 1219
8 Czech Republic 1146
9 Portugal 1122
10 Russia 1023

FIFA.com - Spain consolidate their lead

The new list with a few changes because the FIFA devaluated some games from 2007.

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Spain Go Top As Italy Slip To Third In Fifa Rankings

Italy have dropped one place to third in this month's official FIFA ranking, while Spain go top of the list. Germany move up to second, while the South American contingent are starting to struggle...

It shouldn't be a surprise that Italy have not consolidated their spot close to the top of the ranking in second place after their poor showing at Euro 2008. A slip of only one spot may actually have been kind to the Azzurri with the Spanish deservingly perched at the number one spot in the ranking after their European Championship victory.

Euro 2008 losing finalists Germany have replaced Italy in second spot, completing a European top three that have pushed the South Americans further down the table. Brazil has lost two positions languishing in sixth place, while the might of Argentina has also lost a place.

Euro 2008 underdogs Russia are the only new entry into the top ten, displacing lowly France who have found their new position in twelfth place. The European Championships have helped to shuffle the top ten places somewhat, with Spain everyones choice for the number one spot.

The FIFA rankings, introduced in 1992, has seen Brazil top the table for the vast majority of its existence.

Current top 20:

1 Spain
2 Germany
3 Italy
4 Netherlands
5 Croatia
6 Brazil
7 Argentina
8 Czech Republic
9 Portugal
10 Russia
11 Romania
12 France
13 Turkey
14 England
15 Cameroon
16 Scotland
17 Bulgaria
18 Greece
19 Ghana
20 Israel

Goal.com - FIFA - Spain Go Top As Italy Slip To Third In Fifa Rankings

[Oliver_Kahn]

Czech Rep ahead of Portugal.. based on what??? They couldn't even qualify from their group!

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Germany as second is a correct placement. They could have been first though.

Seriously, bias aside, from what Germany have shown in the recent years, they deserve that.

I don't see how Spain is first, that is ridiculous in my opinion. Euro yes, but what before?

[Jager]

Spain hasn't been losing matches in the last few years, and they have been playing good teams, that is what they are based on.


The rankings are just that, a formula to determine placing or seeding. These are more important for nations outside the top twenty to see if they are making progress. Anything in the top ten is fantastic. Anything in the top twenty is very good.


So in a nutshell, who is number one or top five really doesn't matter. Portugal plays Spain or Germany plays Italy, its a crap shoot...and I'm sure nobody would want to play Argentina.

The other thing is that if you don't play big name teams competitively in tournaments, you lose your placing. That has happened with Brazil and Argentina.

But one thing, Brazil is not the side it once was, and they are most certainly in a established down trend.

The country I live in now, Canada is like in the nineties, this ranking is for more like countries like them. They can measure their progress.