England rise to fourth in Fifa world football rankings

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England have risen two places to fourth in the Fifa world rankingsexternal-link despite their Euro 2012 quarter-final exit.

European champions Spain remain number one, while beaten finalists Italy - who knocked England out on penalties - go up six places to sixth.

The 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil drop out of the top 10 for the first time, falling five spots to 11th.

Wales remain 38th, Scotland are ranked 49th - down eight places - while Northern Ireland move up one to 102nd.

The Republic of Ireland, who lost all three group matches at Euro 2012, fall to 26th from 18th.

Both defeated Euro 2012 semi-finalists rise in the rankings with Germany up a place in second while Portugal climb five spots to fifth.

The Fifa world rankings are compiled every month, with ranking points accumulated according to results, the importance of the matches played and the strength of opposing teams.

Five-times world champions Brazil, who do not have to qualify for the World Cup as hosts, have played less top-level matches in 2012 than some of the other leading nations.

England have not reached a major tournament semi-final since the European Championship on home soil in 1996.

At Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, England topped their group after drawing with France and beating Sweden and Ukraine before the defeat on penalties to Italy.

Fifa world rankings - top 20

1. Spain 2. Germany 3. Uruguay 4. England 5. Portugal 6. Italy 7. Argentina 8. Netherlands 9. Croatia 10. Denmark 11. Brazil 12. Greece 13. Russia 14. France 15. Chile 16. Ivory Coast 17. Sweden 18. Czech Republic 19. Mexico 20. Japan

Selected others: 26. Republic of Ireland 38. Wales 49. Scotland 102. Northern Ireland

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608 comments

  • I misread this and thought we'd risen to 4th in the UK rankings...

  • It takes into account the fact that we have lost only a few games in recent years, but not the way we play. Hence, we get a good ranking based on being hard to beat. The FIFA rankings don't take style and tactics into account....

    Still surprising though.

  • My team Bolivia have gone up 27 ranks to 83rd :) oh yah happy

  • The rankings are based on results, over 4 years; they're not trying to make a value judgement on the quality of various squads.
    If we had to play a tournament, we'd soon discover we're not 4th best in the world (and nearly 3rd); but we do consistently grind out results.
    Anyway, it does mean we're seeded when any groups are drawn.

  • @160: Germany got over that 5-1 defeat to go on and reach the final of that world cup. England on the other hand have fans still talking about a qualifier result a decade later.

  • Alot of people on here who don't understand the concept of rankings - exactly in what sport are rankings based on "opinion" of who is better? Its always a formula based on results - never perfect and there will always be strange results but overall England's position reflects that overall we have got good results in football matches (eg you can't allow for Italy "outplaying" us in points)!

  • At the end of the day, England were one of only two nations to finish Euro 2012 unbeaten and on paper a record of two wins and two draws from such a tough competition looks good. that is why we have gone upin the rankings. Of course we are by no means the fourth best football nation in the world and we weren't even the fourth best in Euro 2012.

  • Over the last 4 years England have qualified for the WC2010 and Euro2012 without losing a game and have won most of our competitive games, only drawing a few. In major tournaments we have consistently passed the group stages, being eliminated on penalties (which counts as a draw) or by Germany.
    If people look only at RESULTS, we probably are 4th. Performance is not measured, only results.

  • Funniest thing I've heard since 'the golden generation' and 'not one of the germans would get in this england side' and 'Rooney is world class'. I think I've just wet myself.

  • The rankings are a perfectly valid measure.

    England have been very hard to beat over the last 4+ years, having lost only 6 out of 42 games under FC, and 0 out of 6 (90 mins) under RH.

  • Rankings should be based on results. Tournament result of 2 wins and 2 draws was going to improve our ranking. If you look at how the rankings are calculated my main critcism would be that the "weighting" for opposition strength does not look suficiently variable. Thus a few too many points are gained from defeating more average opponents - same for everyone though.

  • The reason we are rated highly is because we win most games, were the last team to beat the World & European champions.

    Nobody beat us at the Euros, we won the majority of games under Capello. We were knocked out of WC2010 by a team ranked above us.

    Actual performance doesn't come into it. Our results over the period are 4th best in the world.

  • Uruguay record:
    2010 WC 4th
    Copa America 2011 Winners

    You see, it is all results based. I would say the rankings are accurate to within 4 or 5 places either way, clearly England are not realistically 4th best but are top 10. Deal with it.

  • England 4th best in the world, what a joke we maybe just about top ten in Europe!!!!

  • Unlike those of us that had to watch the game, the computer will see England's quarter final performance as a creditable draw against strong opposition in an important fixture.

    It won't have been sat there with its head in his hands asking 'why can't they string more than 4 passes together...'

  • The rankings are based on results. I don't remember us losing too often in recent times.

    It's obvious that on the pitch we have to put the performances with the results.

    It's also obvious the FA, who control the grass roots football, need a kick up the backside!

  • @ 148. SOXI69
    @ 137.JensonJet

    "Surely, never in the history of sport world rankings has a team so high up stood so little chance of actually winning a tournament!"

    "You mean, apart from Uruguay I presume."

    Presumably you don't mean Uruguay who won the last Copa America do you? Beating hosts Argentina on the way? Isn't this the same team that finished 4th at the last WC?

  • A lot of comments here about how England aren't really 4th in the world. These rankings are a points system based on results not performances. It is not a real insight. Brazil have fallen as they didn't compete at the Euros. Expect them to climb again during the next Copa America. Too many friendliest or playing low ranked teams hinder rankings even when you win. We've picked our opponents well.

  • @BJ Uruguay are the reigning south American champions

  • @ 146.BJ- Uruguay won the Copa America in 2011

    England 4th? They're just about the 4th best team in the UK

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