Is this our highest ranking ever?

[Raider Red]

We're now 7th...7th! I figured we'd drop with Euro 2004 going on.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,AllJul2004,00.html?select11=All&cmbMonth=Jul&cmbYear=2004

If the draw was held today, we would be seeded. (I used the July rankings as a proxy for the 2004 and 2005 year-end rankings) Of course, I don't see the Argies staying as low as 11th with the Copa getting underway, but it's still cool.

BRA 63.67
GER 52.83
SPA 51.17
MEX 48.33
ITA 46.83
ENG 46.50
FRA 45.67
USA 42.50
---------------
NED 41.67
ARG 41.67

Here's a thread in which the seeding formula is explained, kinda lengthy, so be warned.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87489

[geordienation]

It doesn't matter.

Rankings don't mean dick. There's still WCQ's to be played.

[Bruce S]

We're now 7th...7th! I figured we'd drop with Euro 2004 going on.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,AllJul2004,00.html?select11=All&cmbMonth=Jul&cmbYear=2004

If the draw was held today, we would be seeded. (I used the July rankings as a proxy for the 2004 and 2005 year-end rankings) Of course, I don't see the Argies staying as low as 11th with the Copa getting underway, but it's still cool.

BRA 63.67
GER 52.83
SPA 51.17
MEX 48.33
ITA 46.83
ENG 46.50
FRA 45.67
USA 42.50
---------------
NED 41.67
ARG 41.67

Here's a thread in which the seeding formula is explained, kinda lengthy, so be warned.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87489
fifa rankings are just one thing that goes into seeding.We will not be seeded in 2006.Neither will Mexico.

[Casper]

fifa rankings are just one thing that goes into seeding.We will not be seeded in 2006.Neither will Mexico.
I'd argue Mexico could very well be seeded with solid results over the next two years. I don't think we'll see two seeded Concacaf teams, though, and I don't see us having many games that give us the chance to pick up a lot of points other than against Mexico in '05.

[Crewfansince96]

We're now 7th...7th! I figured we'd drop with Euro 2004 going on.

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,AllJul2004,00.html?select11=All&cmbMonth=Jul&cmbYear=2004

If the draw was held today, we would be seeded. (I used the July rankings as a proxy for the 2004 and 2005 year-end rankings) Of course, I don't see the Argies staying as low as 11th with the Copa getting underway, but it's still cool.

BRA 63.67
GER 52.83
SPA 51.17
MEX 48.33
ITA 46.83
ENG 46.50
FRA 45.67
USA 42.50
---------------
NED 41.67
ARG 41.67

Here's a thread in which the seeding formula is explained, kinda lengthy, so be warned.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87489


Crewfan counts down from Brazil, gets to Us and calls out the number 8! 7th?

Besides all that, if the rankings were really a good way of judging who is the best sides at the current time, there is no way in HELL that Germany is 2nd, Mexico 4th, hell you could argued about all of them save Brazil.

All that being said, I love the direction our Nats are going, they are playing a much more attractive style of soccer than in years past, the player pool is growing all the time, and we are producing world class talent right here in America!

You have to love that.

CF96

[cosmosRIP]

fifa rankings are just one thing that goes into seeding.We will not be seeded in 2006.Neither will Mexico.
According to the thread on the FIFA board (and some of those folks seem to know what they're talking about) Mexico most likely will be seeded.

[szazzy]

Crewfan counts down from Brazil, gets to Us and calls out the number 8! 7th?

Besides all that, if the rankings were really a good way of judging who is the best sides at the current time, there is no way in HELL that Germany is 2nd, Mexico 4th, hell you could argued about all of them save Brazil.

All that being said, I love the direction our Nats are going, they are playing a much more attractive style of soccer than in years past, the player pool is growing all the time, and we are producing world class talent right here in America!

You have to love that.

CF96
You didn't bother to read the link. The US is ranked 7th in the FIFA Rankings, but when applied to seeding formula (it's only a part), the US at this time would get the 8th and final seed. Teams like Germany and Mexico are up there because of their past WC performances along with relatively consistent play over the last couple years and some good finishes over highly ranked teams. Obviously they're not perfect.

[kurgen99]

You didn't bother to read the link. The US is ranked 7th in the FIFA Rankings, but when applied to seeding formula (it's only a part), the US at this time would get the 8th and final seed. Teams like Germany and Mexico are up there because of their past WC performances along with relatively consistent play over the last couple years and some good finishes over highly ranked teams. Obviously they're not perfect.


Sorry for a dumb question, but can someone explain "seeding" to me? Does that mean we automatically make the WC 06?

[Crewfansince96]

You didn't bother to read the link. The US is ranked 7th in the FIFA Rankings, but when applied to seeding formula (it's only a part), the US at this time would get the 8th and final seed. Teams like Germany and Mexico are up there because of their past WC performances along with relatively consistent play over the last couple years and some good finishes over highly ranked teams. Obviously they're not perfect.

My apologies for my newbiness.

[Casper]

Sorry for a dumb question, but can someone explain "seeding" to me? Does that mean we automatically make the WC 06?
Wouldn't that be nice. No, it means that after the field of 32 is set, FIFA effectively takes its top 7 teams and the host and make them the anchors of their own groups, so that two of the top eight effectively don't have to play one another in the first round. It has nothing to do with automatic qualification - that, everyone still has to do the hard way.

[kurgen99]

Wouldn't that be nice. No, it means that after the field of 32 is set, FIFA effectively takes its top 7 teams and the host and make them the anchors of their own groups, so that two of the top eight effectively don't have to play one another in the first round. It has nothing to do with automatic qualification - that, everyone still has to do the hard way.

Thanks. Still sounds good though.

[smith07]

There is the possibility that one of the teams that would get a seed won't qualify. But how can the rankings mean anything when italy improved in spite of not making past the group stage of Euro 2004

[cosmosRIP]

I don't think how far you advance has anything to do with it, Italy went 1-0-2 in a major tournament.

[superdave]

Besides all that, if the rankings were really a good way of judging who is the best sides at the current time,
That's not their purpose. You can read any of the 1 million threads on the rankings and see how they are derived, and impute their purpose from that.

[Scotty]

FIFA calculates these rankings based on results over how long of a time span?

[dcc134]

FIFA calculates these rankings based on results over how long of a time span?

8 years

It will be interesting to see the impact Copa amercia has on these rankings.

Assuming they do well, you'd have to figure Mexico and especially argentina to get a nice bump next month.

[EvanJ]

FIFA has rankings going back to August 1993 and this is our highest ranking ever. Our previous best was 8th for two nonconsecutive months and our worst was 35th.

[argentine soccer fan]

Not only is FIFA planning to make Mexico a seed, but Sepp Blatter has already set the opening bid for making sure that your country gets placed in the Mexico group at 250,000.00 euros.

[kurgen99]

Not only is FIFA planning to make Mexico a seed, but Sepp Blatter has already set the opening bid for making sure that your country gets placed in the Mexico group at 250,000.00 euros.

LOL! Mexico hasn't even scored on us since 2001! If they're looking for an early exit they can play us right away.

[Raider Red]

You didn't bother to read the link. The US is ranked 7th in the FIFA Rankings, but when applied to seeding formula (it's only a part), the US at this time would get the 8th and final seed. Teams like Germany and Mexico are up there because of their past WC performances along with relatively consistent play over the last couple years and some good finishes over highly ranked teams. Obviously they're not perfect.

Guess I should have made that clear-er.

But I wouldn't put it past Sepp to screw with the formula to ensure we won't get a seed. If there are more than two-non Euro sides that are in line for a seed, then the shenanigans are ON!