Teams and Rankings
Some interesting facts about the forthcoming World Cup.
Who are the strongest contenders? Defending Champions Brazil would be the first name that comes to most minds. Other favourites would include Germany as hosts and 2002 runners up, and Argentina, England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in alphabetical order. Most neutrals would limit their choice to these countries, I suppose.
However, there are so many dark horses, so to speak. Did you know that the United States is now the 4th ranked (April 2006 FIFA Rankings) team in the world? They have achieved this position by performing consistently over the last few months. The 2nd ranked team, after Brazil, is the Czech Republic! Mexico, at 6th, is another surprise, to me, at least. For a ready reference, here is the April 2006 FIFA Ranking for all the 32 qualified teams:
[R = April 2006 FIFA Ranking, S = Seeding for World Cup, seedings were based on FIFA Rankings as well as performance in the last two cups, 2002 & 1998.]
Brazil: R – 1, S – 1
Czech Republic: R – 2, S – 16
Netherlands: R – 3, S – 10
United States: R – 4, S – 9
Spain: R – 5, S – 3
Mexico: R – 6, S – 5
France: R – 7, S – 6
Argentina: R – 8, S – 7
Portugal: R – 8, S – 17
England: R – 10, S – 2
Italy: R – 14, S – 8
Sweden: R – 16, S – 13
Japan: R – 17, S – 12
Germany: R – 19, S – 4
Tunisia: R – 21, S – 22
Iran: R – 22, S – 21
Croatia: R – 24, S – 14
Costa Rica: R – 26, S – 18
Poland: R – 28, S – 20
South Korea: R – 30, S – 11
Ivory Coast: R – 32, S – 27
Paraguay: R – 33, S – 15
Saudi Arabia: R – 34, S – 19
Switzerland: R – 35, S – 25
Ecuador: R – 39, S – 23
Ukraine: R – 41, S – 26
Australia: R – 44, S – 28
Serbia & Montenegro: R – 46, S – 24
Trinidad & Tobago: R – 47, S – 29
Ghana: R – 50, S – 30
Angola: R – 58, S – 31
Togo: R – 59, S – 32
Note: All the top 10 FIFA ranked countries are playing, but from the next 10 ranked teams, 6 are missing! They are # 11 Denmark, # 12 Nigeria, # 13 Turkey, # 15 Cameroon, # 18 Egypt and # 19 Greece. Egypt and Greece are current continental champions.
Who are the strongest contenders? Defending Champions Brazil would be the first name that comes to most minds. Other favourites would include Germany as hosts and 2002 runners up, and Argentina, England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in alphabetical order. Most neutrals would limit their choice to these countries, I suppose.
However, there are so many dark horses, so to speak. Did you know that the United States is now the 4th ranked (April 2006 FIFA Rankings) team in the world? They have achieved this position by performing consistently over the last few months. The 2nd ranked team, after Brazil, is the Czech Republic! Mexico, at 6th, is another surprise, to me, at least. For a ready reference, here is the April 2006 FIFA Ranking for all the 32 qualified teams:
[R = April 2006 FIFA Ranking, S = Seeding for World Cup, seedings were based on FIFA Rankings as well as performance in the last two cups, 2002 & 1998.]
Brazil: R – 1, S – 1
Czech Republic: R – 2, S – 16
Netherlands: R – 3, S – 10
United States: R – 4, S – 9
Spain: R – 5, S – 3
Mexico: R – 6, S – 5
France: R – 7, S – 6
Argentina: R – 8, S – 7
Portugal: R – 8, S – 17
England: R – 10, S – 2
Italy: R – 14, S – 8
Sweden: R – 16, S – 13
Japan: R – 17, S – 12
Germany: R – 19, S – 4
Tunisia: R – 21, S – 22
Iran: R – 22, S – 21
Croatia: R – 24, S – 14
Costa Rica: R – 26, S – 18
Poland: R – 28, S – 20
South Korea: R – 30, S – 11
Ivory Coast: R – 32, S – 27
Paraguay: R – 33, S – 15
Saudi Arabia: R – 34, S – 19
Switzerland: R – 35, S – 25
Ecuador: R – 39, S – 23
Ukraine: R – 41, S – 26
Australia: R – 44, S – 28
Serbia & Montenegro: R – 46, S – 24
Trinidad & Tobago: R – 47, S – 29
Ghana: R – 50, S – 30
Angola: R – 58, S – 31
Togo: R – 59, S – 32
Note: All the top 10 FIFA ranked countries are playing, but from the next 10 ranked teams, 6 are missing! They are # 11 Denmark, # 12 Nigeria, # 13 Turkey, # 15 Cameroon, # 18 Egypt and # 19 Greece. Egypt and Greece are current continental champions.
posted by Haridaspal | 12:48 pm
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