Netherlands overtake Spain to top Fifa world rankings

[Bender]

The Netherlands have replaced Spain at the top of Fifa's world rankings, with England climbing two places to fourth.

The world and European Champions have dropped to second after losing ranking points in a friendly defeat by Italy.

England, despite having their friendly against the Dutch postponed, have risen because of Brazil's loss to Germany.

Republic of Ireland went up two places to 31st, Scotland leapt six places to 55th, Northern Ireland rose three places to 59th but Wales fell to 117th.

In topping the rankings for the first time, the Netherlands become only the seventh nation to hold top spot - Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Italy are the others.

FIFA RANKINGS FOR AUGUST

1 Netherlands
2 Spain
3 Germany
4 England
5 Uruguay
6 Brazil
31 Republic of Ireland
55 Scotland
59 Northern Ireland
117 Wales
Spain had held top spot since July 2010 following their World Cup final victory over the Netherlands in South Africa.

Germany lie third, while Uruguay are South America's top-rated nation in fifth after winning the Copa America in Argentina, with Brazil sixth.

Italy, Portugal, Argentina and Croatia complete the top 10.

Wales, who have fallen behind Haiti and North Korea, occupy their worst position since the rankings were introduced in 1993.

Fifa ranking points are accumulated according to results, the importance of the matches played and the strength of the opposing teams.

[Alex]

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/show...postcount=2264

Last to know again Bender

[Shaggy]

Wales behind Haiti

[Assassin]

Bender.....legend

[Reece]

So basically, we need to kick off some more riots in this country everytime England have a friendly, so that it gets postponed and they go up a place in the rankings.

We'll be world #1 before we know it

[Exiled_red]

How the hell are England 4th

Ranking system is a joke

[Roboklopp]

Embarrassing.

[lfcred]

It is embarrassing! typical of fifa! the system is ridculous! who could possibly argue that spain aren't the number 1 team in the world they are the world and European champions for god's sake!

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

[RichC]

England in 4th!

Ranking system is a complete joke but then it's run by FIFA so no great shock!

[Mr Darko]

What exactly is the ranking system in detail (I assume FIFA do indeed make all the details public?) - i.e. what determines positioning because I can't think of a single reason why England are 4th place (other than a large bribe) - an absolute disgrace, England shouldn't even be the top 8.

Baffles me how England who haven't (arguably) beat anyone decent since Germany in a friendly in 2008, got humiliated in the World Cup...are above Uruguay who made the semi-finals and won the Copa America.

[Alex]

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifa..._wr_points.pdf

Seems fairly complex. Who decides the amounts for each criteria? Ahh well i suppose its because England either play qulifiers, or higher profile friendless against bigger opposition.