http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=414415&cc=5739

Argentina move top in FIFA world rankings

ZURICH, March 14 (Reuters) - Argentina have moved into top spot in FIFA's world rankings list for the first time, dislodging world champions Italy whose reign at the top of the table lasted just a month.


Argentina climbed from third to first place partly as a result of their 1-0 win over France in February and partly because older results have expired and are no longer used for the points evaluation.


Apart from Argentina moving into first place, Italy slipped down to second and Brazil, leaders for four and a half years until January, slipped to third. There were no other changes in the top 10.

The biggest movers in the top 50 were Finland, the surprise leaders of Euro 2008 qualifying Group A, who have climbed 15 places to 33rd. Panama have climbed 20 places to 54th and are the biggest movers of the month.

Cameroon are the highest placed team from outside Europe or South America. The Africans are 18th on 893 points, ahead of 19th place Ghana and Ivory Coast, a further place back.

Iran are the highest ranked Asian team in 34th place (705 points), with Australia 40th (657) and Japan 42nd (639).

The Top 20 positions:

1. Argentina 1616 points
2. Italy 1592
3. Brazil 1557
4. France 1515
5. Germany 1390
6. England 1339
7. Netherlands 1313
8. Portugal 1288
9. Czech Rep 1195
10. Spain 1161
11. Ukraine 1037
12. Croatia 982
13. Greece 961
14. Romania 919
15. Sweden 914
16. Scotland 911
17. Switzerland 906
18. Cameroon 893
19. Ghana 881
20. Ivory Coast 875

my lord why is portugal still behind england and netherlands

Everyday when the rankings come out is a sad day.

it's sad that anyone still bothers to give these FIFA rankings any attention

Its time to flush the FIFA Rankings down the toilet once and for all, and replace it with a Top 25, selected by a blue-ribbon panel of the world's leading soccer journalists. It would work just like the top 25 polls for college football and basketball in the United States, where journalists would pick who they believe to be the 25 best teams of that particular moment, giving 25 points to the best team, 24 to the second-best team, etc.

I think the rankings are somewhat fair. Again you have to remember (which no one EVER DOES) its based on 4 years. According to this in the past 4 years Argentina have been better. I think they are taking the undefeated Olympics into account

I think the rankings are somewhat fair. Again you have to remember (which no one EVER DOES) its based on 4 years. According to this in the past 4 years Argentina have been better. I think they are taking the undefeated Olympics into account

The Olympics are not taken into account because it's considered a U23 competition. With that being said I don't see how Argentina can be the number one in the ranking.

where the hell are northern ireland? we beat england and spain! :D

7th? How did we do that? We are no where near the top 10 atm

I'll tell you what, we were in second the day the world cup started. :(

where the hell are northern ireland? we beat england and spain! :D

No, you actually have to beat good teams to make it in the rankings... Oh Snap!

I kid, I kid... (H)

With that being said I don't see how Argentina can be the number one in the ranking.
with that being said about the U23-
I have no idea either. have they played any official matches at all?

it's sad that anyone still bothers to give these FIFA rankings any attention

meh, the only ones that give it attention are the ones in first place, when they are knocked down they go back to not caring about it anymore just like the rest of us.

Where the hell's Poland? We beat Portugal!!

It's unfair that Romania is higher than Poland with all respect, which I have to this team.

I can't complain about the rankings (H)

According to Olé, the ranking gives more points to an away loss than to a home win. Also, what pushed Argentina to the top was the away win against France.

It's unfair that Romania is higher than Poland with all respect, which I have to this team.

Ukraine is 11th :| (H)

i love rankings, even when i don't agree with 'em.

Ukraine is 11th :| (H)

But they advanced from their group at WC.:jambo:

Scotland 16th - says it all really

8. Portugal 1288

we're behind netherlands and england so it's certainly a sad day....

this ranking just keep making less and less sense....