Top 10 teams in the world?

I'm basing this since 2000.

1. Spain { current world and back to back european champions. Quarter final appearances in 2000, 2002, and 2006.

2. Brazil - Coppa America champions 2004, 2007,World Champions 2002. Qtr finals 2006 and 2010 world cups.

3. Italy - 3 finals appearances and a penalty exit n the qtr's to eventual champions Spain without their best player in 2008 is a remarkable record. World champions of 2006.

4. Germany - Runners up in 2002 world cup, semi finalists in 2006 and 2010 world cups finishing 3rd in both, runners up in euro 2008. Semi finals of euro 2012.

5. France - European Champions in 2000 and runners up to Italy in 2006 losing only via a penalty shootout. Also made the qtr finals of euro 2004 and 2012.

6. Portugal - Runners up euro 2004. Semi finals in 2000 and 2012 euro's as well as 2006 semi final world cup. QT Finals euro 2008.

7. Holland. reached the world cup final in 2010. Semi Final appearances in 2000, 2004 Euros and qtrs in 2008. 2nd round world cup 2006

8. Argentina - Results havn't been good enough for them to warrant a higher placing no matter how good the quality of their players are or how attractive they play. Runners up in Coppa America twice to brazil in 2004 and 2007. qtr finals of world cups 2006 and 2010. Consider themselves lucky to be 8th as Uruguay who made the semi's of the world cup in 2010 and won the coppa's last year could and probably should be in front of them based on their results.

9. England - qtr final exits in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2012. Three of those on penalties, the other to Brazil who went on to be crowned kings. 2nd round exit to germany in 2010 which could have easily been different if not for bad officiating. Got them ahead of Uruguay for consistency.

10. Uruguay - Won Coppa in 2011 and semi's in 2010. Copa success edged it from teams like Turkey who has appeared in two semi finals and other nations.

Spain is best!

France

Uruguay had a bit of a fluke year in my opinion. Great generation of players, and they took advantage by winning copa america.

I won't recognize what they did in the WC though, they should have been eliminated by Ghana in the quarters, if not for Suarez having a shameless volleyball/goalie block.

Beat Korea before that game too. Knocked off Mexico and South Africa in the group game. I agree with you, was a bit of a fluke and it wasn't like they knocked off a Germany or a Holland along the way.

What would you do if you were in Suarez's shoes? Let Ghana score?

Suarez handled the ball and was given a red card and a PK for Ghana who blew it.

1 Spain
2 Brasil
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 Argentina
6 Netherlands
7 France
8 Ivory Coast
9 Japan
10 Gahna


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1 Spain
2 Germanyl
3 Brasil
4 Argentina
5 Portugal
6 Netherlands
7 Ivory Coast
8 Italy
9 Ghana
10 France

I would have Brazil first. They also have 2 Confed Cup titles in that time span, including beating Germany in Germany, which imho gives them the edge considering the other major titles are even. And I am not sure about Uruguay. They had 2-3 good years, but not much before that, unless one includes 2 back to back Copa semifinal eliminations to Brazil, both on penalties. I would go with a more consistent team like Mexico or Paraguay. Personally, missing more than half the major competitions, like Turkey, is disqualifier for me.

Spain still the best for me. Such quality all around. Even the players on their bench would easily get in to nearly every national squad.

The one position Spain seems lacking is striker with only Villa top class. Well... maybe Torres if he gets back to form.

I'm not sure if turkey should be on list for their inconsistency but they've been pretty impressive last decade.

Turkey only made it to WC 2002 and euro 2008. They finished 3rd in both but they missed out on 4 tournaments out of 6 in the last decade. Far from impressive for a country of 75 million people.

Brazil is way too low on your list if we are talking about the past decade. And England too high.

2000-2009 (2010 achievements are not included in here)
1- Brazil (more championships than any other team)
2- Italy (2006 WC puts them in this place)
3- France (early success in the decade and a finals appearance 2 confed cups)
4- Spain (long winning streak showing consistency in play towards the end of the decade)
5- Germany (most consistent team won nothing)
6- Argentina (they lost 3 finals)

At this point it's all about personal opinion I think, it was all about who performed better at a certain competition. But I would say

7- Greece (Euro win)
8- Japan
9- Turkey
10- England

Turkey???

like I said, after the top 6 it really doesn't matter who you put down there, or the order. Because it's all personal choice since no team really stands out. I asked around people that I know and some made a compelling argument for the US to be in there. Turkey had some great runs between 2000-2009 that can't be denied.

After reading hundreds of top 10 lists over the last half decade or so this might take the cake for worst yet. Did you just pull country names out of a hat? Let me give you a more rational, thought out top ten, one which doesn't feature bias and is from 2000-present.

1 Spain (No need to explain)
2 Italy (WC 2006 winners, Euro 2000 and 2012 finals)
3 Brazil (WC 2002 winners, QF exits WC 2006 and 2010, Copa winners 2004 and 2007)
4 Germany (No trophies but always seem to be in the semis every time)
5 Portugal (Everyone's favorite team to hate, Semis euro 2000, 2012, WC 2006 Semi and euro 2004 runner up)
6 Netherlands (WC 2010 runner up, Euro 2000 and 2004 semi)
7 Argentina (Copa 2004 and 2007 runner up, QF exits WC 2006 and 2010)
8 Uruguay (WC 2010 semi and Copa 2011 winners, also 3rd at Copa 2004, pretty good for a small country )
9 England (always make it, minus Euro 2008, and pass the group stage, nothing special)
10 Mexico-Japan-Ivory coast-Ghana-Croatia who knows?

Decent list but 10. would probably have to go to either Mexico or Ghana. You did also forget South Korea, but I hold the 2002 cheating against them. Maybe Egypt, but 3 continental titles and 0 starts at the World Cup count them out.

I would probably go with Mexico (Gold Cup dominance, made it to 1/8 final of WC 3 times) vs Ghana (1 WC 1/8 final, 1 almost 1/2 final, but no continental championship).

EDIT: Actually if we are counting 2000 onwards then France should be 2nd - ahead of Italy, but below Spain. If we had 1998 also then France should be first, but we don't so forget about it.

I think you missed the time period there... Spain had 1 Euro during that era... ahead of Italy, Brazil and France? are you insane? You're mentioning championships during 2010+

Please go back and check your history books, you need a serious reality check.

Yes I completely forgot about France, probably because the last few years they have been forgettable. I would slide them in at 2nd or 3rd and shift everyone else down 1. I think I would still hold Italy at #2 simply because France has fallen apart in more recent times. I also think if I had to choose for #10 I would say Mexico, forget history, mostly because they seem to be more of a threat currently.

oh and by the way, a quick way to see who is the real top 10 teams in the world, just look at the odds for the next world cup in Vegas. Those people put their money where their mouth is, they back up their claims hahahaha. I would like to see you all doing that.

By the way Brazil is favorite, Argentina Second.

Sorry your right, I missed your time line, never the less no point in not including 2010-present for me. Still even by your time no reason to have Turkey or Japan ahead of Portugal and the Netherlands. I understand its an opinion and you have the right to one, but I hope you also understand when you break it down it makes zero sense.

Please tell me you understand its because its in Brazil right? or because of the odds you think Brazil and Argentina are the #1 and #2 teams in the world?

Odds are really pretty close, they had Spain and Brazil tied for 1st last WC, but Brazil rarely doesn't get the top pick. They are not going to put random odds up because of X and Y. Remember they have to pay out based on those odds, so there is actually a lot of math and statistics involved in creating those numbers. Home field advantage does play a part, so does the fact that Argentina is playing closer to it's base.

The best team currently in the World it's Spain (6:1 odds) everyone else needs to wait 2 more years to have that claim. 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10... does it really matter? I'm the second best loser! yay!!

Spain is #3 and Deutschland #4 in the betting books

So even if you are looking at it subjectively it does make sense for now, they'll review this after the Confed Cup and likely 1 month before the tournament starts.