FIFA/Coca-Cola Rankings Adjustment October 2010

Armenia are amazing!

There is only one team in Europe that really stands out as improving, and one team that have really lost places. Here's the summary of what happened:

1. Armenia: +45 places following their two victories. They're up to 60th, and only just behind Scotland. This is their highest ever FIFA ranking!

2. Russia: +15 places thanks to their defeats of Israel and Macedonia. Up to 10th!

3. Montenegro: Montenegro: +14 places to 26th. They did fantastically well in group G, having defeated all their opponents except England. Once England have played against Wales then they should be equal top of the group.

4. Azerbaijan: They defeated Turkey, and so deserve an 11 place improvement to 91st. Turkey, meanwhile, fall 8 places to 29th, as they gained no points over the qualifiers.

5. France and Italy: France finally start to rise in rank again. They've stopped losing, and that's helping change their average points back where they should be. Italy have dropped points after a draw with Northern Ireland, and the abandoned match gives no points.

6. Greece: This team seems attached to twelfth. They have not moved at all since I started keeping track of the ranks, and the last time they changed position was in June when they came up one place from thirteenth.

7. Scotland: They were the UK's second team, but luck for Northern Ireland has lost the Scots position. It's entirely unfair for them to be drawn against Spain, and they played a good game. But playing well doesn't count for any points, so they remain third in the UK (fourth including Ireland).

8. Wales: At least Scotland aren't Wales, who finally start losing position. They're down into the 100s now, having lost 20 places to go 105th.

9. Israel: They've gone down 20 places as well. Israel have strange form, sometimes being better and sometimes worse. Their home league isn't that bad, so it's hard to know what's up internationally.

10. Cyprus: Who knows what is happening with Cyprus? They drew 4-4 with Portugal, but now have such bad form they drop 45 places to 88th! Their performance is even less understandable than Israel's.

11. Central African Republic: Not a European team, which is why I saved them till last. I predicted they'd rise, but not by this much! Sixty places up to 112th makes them the fastest-rising team in the world. Fellow Africans Niger also rose well, with 54 places, to go 100th.

FIFA/Coca-Cola Rankings Adjustment September 2010

So what about those FIFA/Coca-Cola rankings, then? Well, there have been some big changes in the European teams, with several huge shifts upwards or downwards. Most shockingly, Scotland – despite a draw and a win – have lost their position as the UK's second (and the British Isles' third) team. That place is now taken up by Northern Ireland, who managed a 14 place shift upwards to 45th, while Scotland drifted downwards to 47th.

The largest jump was from Montenegro, who are in group G with England, Wales, Bulgaria and Switzerland. Their shock victory over a very poor Bulgaria (perhaps shaken over their 4-0 defeat by England) gave them a 33 place rise to 40th in the world! Bulgaria, however, have dropped 11 places to 54th, and also lost their coach, who resigned after the bad weekend.

Another notable improvements is Cyprus, thanks to their draw with Portugal. The Cyprians go up from 63 to 43 – 20 places! Portugal hold their position in 8th. Also, the defeaters of France – Belarus – went up 23 places to 55th, while France (despite beating Bosnia-Herzegovina) drop six places to 27th.

Finally, and just for amusement, Andorra and San Marino both dropped a place (Andorra have 2 points, San Marino have 0), thanks to the Central African Republic drawing with Morocco 0-0. This gave them 30 points, and I would not be surprised if it was treated like a victory.

Euro 2012 Qualification: 7/9/2010 Results

Poor-tugal

More surprises today, especially from Portugal and Georgia. France, however, improved and won a match. Here's the top five surprising results:

1. Georgia (110) drew with Israel (38). There's a difference of 72 places in their world rankings, but this is the second time that Georgia have drawn with a good team this weekend.
2. Montenegro (73) beat Bulgaria (43). Perhaps Bulgaria's 4-0 defeat to England was sagging their spirits.
3. Albania (70) beat the Czech Republic (31)!
4. Norway (22) beat Portugal (8). Portugal are supposed to be a world class team, and should easily defeat their opponents in most situations. This is disappointing.
5. Scotland's (41) draw against Liechtenstein (141) was bad, considering the 100-place difference. Should have been a win for the Scots.

In the British Isles, England and the Republic of Ireland both won (no games today for Wales or Northern Ireland), and Scotland continue to be mediocre. Full group summaries to come over the next few days.

Next weekend: Premier League football, and the Italian Grand Prix.
15th September: FIFA update the world rankings!