The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has a new leader: Italy. Following a successful year for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ winners, Italy have managed to topple Brazil and reclaim the top spot for the first time since November 1993, ending Brazil's remarkable 55-month run at the top of the leader board. For their part, the South Americans recently suffered a 0-2 friendly defeat to Portugal, currently ranked eighth.

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haha, after all that time?

italy hasnt even played a game in several months. dont tell me this happened because brazil lost friendly to portugal. they lost early in the WC but that wasnt enough to lose them 1st spot.

Following a successful year for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ winners, Italy have managed to topple Brazil and reclaim the top spot for the first time since November 1993, ending Brazil's remarkable 55-month run at the top of the leader board. For their part, the South Americans recently suffered a 0-2 friendly defeat to Portugal, currently ranked eighth.

That is why, probably a results of the new way the positions are calculated etc.

No way are Italy the best in the world, maybe the best for hoogalism. No offense to anyone, I just do not rate them as a team, I mean they won the World Cup so fair play to them for that, but anyone who watched the World Cup knows the best team did not win.

Yeah I agree. Brazil should still be on top but their lead margin at the top should be massively cut.

Thats what I think should have happened.

You sound a little sour about the whole thing... cant rate them as a team? The whole world watched the WC. How can you say any of the World/Euro Cup winners were the best team then? How do you rate a team ?

I guess I should use the same logic as Champions Leauge 2004/2005. Clearly Liverpool were lucky to get as far as they did, and anyone who watched the CL final knows the best team did not win. Besides those 6 minutes of horror for Milan, they were the best & dominant team.
I love Brazil as a team and watching them play, but why should they be on top? Because you think so? Because they are Brazil?

I have to agree with you there. Though Italy wasn't as entertaining as Germany or Portugal, they were the most consistent, conceding only one goal throughout the whole tournament. As for how do you rate the team, the FIFA index is flawed at best so I wouldn't take much stock into how the teams are positioned. Brazil are a bit of an enigma considering they now have Dunga as their manager so I'll wait and see how that goes.

As for the Champions League 2004/2005 final, that's football and though AC Milan could have won it, Liverpool had more heart so fair play to them.

Scirwode

your right. any kind of loss is tough. that one in may2005 for milan was just about as bad as WC94 for me. but you have to accept it. at the end of the day, liverpool came back with 3 goals, and held out to the end. they fairly won the CL, and you cant take it away.

the Fifa ranking (old and new) systems sound like they should make sense, but I guess its just misleading. its a system where you get points for wins,ties,losses, and depends on teams you play, with 4 years of history. i guess the stats are just weird the way they are.

You sound a little sour about the whole thing... cant rate them as a team? The whole world watched the WC. How can you say any of the World/Euro Cup winners were the best team then? How do you rate a team ?

I guess I should use the same logic as Champions Leauge 2004/2005. Clearly Liverpool were lucky to get as far as they did, and anyone who watched the CL final knows the best team did not win. Besides those 6 minutes of horror for Milan, they were the best & dominant team.

No, do not get me wrong, I think Italy are a good team, I just would not rate them as the number one team in the World. Personally, I think Argentina, France, Germany are better teams, both in terms of the quality of football they play and also judging on results.

LOL

How we can be SECOND after win FIVE WORLD CUPS?

Scotland have risen four places to 16th in the latest Fifa world rankings.

Former Scotland boss Walter Smith transformed the side's fortunes, seeing them rise from 88th two years ago and 62nd a year ago.

England remain sixth, with Northern Ireland in 47th place and the Republic of Ireland 51st. Wales are 77th.

Argentina took over at the top of the rankings from world champions Italy, who fell to second, with Brazil third, France fourth and Germany fifth.

Scotland rose in the rankings despite not playing since October.

Points gained over the course of a year are included in full.

However, results from any preceding 12 months count only for 50%, with that figure decreasing to 30% for a third year and then 20% for a fourth year.

Scotland boss Alex McLeish has announced his 26-man squad for group leaders Scotland's next Euro 2008 qualifiers against Georgia and world champions Italy.