So, according to these rankings, England are twice as good as Italy, who beat them at the Euro's and got to the final and four times as good as Brazil?
Think how high you English would be if you could win a penalty shootout ... I think you're 0 - 2 so far in 2012.
I remember a few years ago, before the WC in Germany, the USA was ahead of England briefly in the rankings. Then we went on to take 1 point from our three group games.
Everyone knows the system is crooked. Are you honestly saying England are the third best team in the world? There is evidence that tells us who the actual best teams are, it's called WORLD CUP and EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. England reached the last 16 in one and the last eight in the other, and their previous showings weren't any better either. Hardly 3rd best in the world material.
Pedantic quibble. The rankings don't say England are twice as good as Italy and four times as good as Brazil. They say we are two places higher than Italy. The margins between the teams aren't specified, merely the order. But I agree that it's a bit ridiculous to claim we're the third best team in the world.
I'm not saying England are the third best team in the world, no. The rankings are. If the system was crooked, it certainly wouldn't be in England's favour! I think the fact we didn't lose in the Euros went in our favour, and before you go off on one; I don't think penalty shootouts count, which is a good thing. Imagine if England had beaten Italy on penalties! We'd probably be number 2! That certainly wouldn't do, would it! Don't read too much into these rankings, Bandy.
I meant they were crooked as Uruguay who won the Copa America have dropped in the rankings because the competition has been downgraded or something. Despite the fact that both Argentina and Brazil compete in it. This from BBC Roy Hodgson's side have moved to third above Uruguay, whose 2011 Copa America victory has lost value in Fifa's system used to determine rankings. England rewarded for QF failure, Uruguay punished for winning a competition. Crooked.
Do you honestly think someone in FIFA thought "hang on, we can get our mates England higher if we downgrade the Copa America"? Uruguay do seem to be getting the raw end of that, but to say England were rewarded for QF failure is really showing your Welsh colours! How ridiculous.
Myself, I think it says more about England's detractors than it does our actual world standing. Nobody is complaining about this more than English people (and Bandit)! If every amateur critic had their way we wouldn't be in the top 100 purely because we don't destroy every team we play. We're not the third best team in the world but we do better than anyone gives us credit for.
I just find it unbelievable that a country that hasn't made the final of a major tournament since 1966 can be considered the third best in the world. You look at the world number three in tennis for example, Roger Federer. Won multiple grand slams, which is what a number three should be. England realistically should not be in the top ten. It's alright beating the likes of Ukraine and Sweden but when they come up against a quality team they come unstuck. I struggle to think of a team in the top ten rankings that would struggle against England. Italy were highly unfortunate not to beat England in normal time and rightly went through on penalties. 0-0 sometimes does not tell the full story.
