Euro 2012
England have dropped from fourth to eighth in FIFA’s world rankings, despite winning both their matches since the last list was announced.
Fabio Capello’s team claimed successive Euro 2012 qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Wales to put them on the brink of a place at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
But, in a situation that will provoke as much ridicule as when England were named the fourth-best side in world football, they have somehow lost ground since.
FIFA’s controversial rankings take into account friendly matches as well as qualifiers, and are based over results during a four-year period: England appear to have paid the price for their terrible form at the end of 2007, when they failed to qualify for the European Championships under boss Steve McClaren.
One thing that does make sense, however, is Spain’s restoration to the top of the pile: there was much criticism that the world and European champions were overtaken by the Netherlands, who have never won a World Cup and were beaten by Spain in last year’s final.
England have dropped from fourth to eighth in FIFA’s world rankings, despite winning both their matches since the last list was announced.
Fabio Capello’s team claimed successive Euro 2012 qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Wales to put them on the brink of a place at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
But, in a situation that will provoke as much ridicule as when England were named the fourth-best side in world football, they have somehow lost ground since.
FIFA’s controversial rankings take into account friendly matches as well as qualifiers, and are based over results during a four-year period: England appear to have paid the price for their terrible form at the end of 2007, when they failed to qualify for the European Championships under boss Steve McClaren.
One thing that does make sense, however, is Spain’s restoration to the top of the pile: there was much criticism that the world and European champions were overtaken by the Netherlands, who have never won a World Cup and were beaten by Spain in last year’s final.