View Full Version : Why Is Mexico ahead of US?
West Coast Thug
14 Aug 2002, 02:50 PM
What is up with the FIFA rankings? Why is Mexico always ranked higher than the U.S when they have not done as well as them or several of the other teams behind them like Turkey. Does anyone take these rankings seriously?
mcontento
14 Aug 2002, 02:55 PM
obviously you didn't read the ranking methodology, or countless explanations in other threads...:rolleyes:
This thread is a good candidate for being locked as redundant.
footfetish
14 Aug 2002, 02:56 PM
i gotta agree with you on that... but when you look at the fifa world rankings always remember one thing. they are ************ing ************************. ;)
i think sepp blatter and his buddies get drunk, then play darts on a world map to see who is ranked.
Sachin
14 Aug 2002, 04:43 PM
I'll take the bait. The FIFA ranking measure performance over time, unlike the AP and ESPN rankings we see for college basketball and college football.
And it's only been recently that the USA has perfomed better than Mexico in events that MATTER. As far as I can remember, this past Gold Cup and the World Cup are the only two events where the USA has finished ahead of Mexico since the 1995 Copa America (and I'm not sure if Mexico participated in that).
When you consider that Mexico has performed better than the US in:
1996 Gold Cup
1997 World Cup Qualifying
1998 Gold Cup
1998 World Cup
1999 Confed. Cup
2000 Gold Cup
World Cup Qualifying
it's not hard to see why Mexico is ranked higher than the USA. And don't forget to throw in Mexico's 2nd place finish in last years Copa America and whatever their results were in 1999 and 1997.
If you don't understand this, I'll type slower next time.
Sachin
Various Styles
14 Aug 2002, 04:49 PM
I would also like to add, that in the World Cup despite the U.S victory over Mexico they made the same amount of points (7) :)
galperin
14 Aug 2002, 04:54 PM
Originally posted by Various Styles
I would also like to add, that in the World Cup despite the U.S victory over Mexico they made the same amount of points (7) :)
2-0. only points that count to me.
Brownswan
14 Aug 2002, 05:05 PM
Originally posted by galperin
2-0. only points that count to me.
Yeah, hoss, but you ain't FIFA. I'll take 9th for now. It gives us room to move and something to shoot for.
benfica_74
14 Aug 2002, 05:13 PM
some of you guys think just because the us did a pretty good jog at the 2002 wc we can walk up and down and run circles around the other countries that have done much better in previous world cup and such. It takes time, you just have to wait and learn!
Various Styles
14 Aug 2002, 05:26 PM
2-0. only points that count to me.
Your Celebration only shows the greatness of el Tri :cool:
Eric B
14 Aug 2002, 06:18 PM
Originally posted by Sachin
I'll type slower next time.
Good, maybe you'll remember that we eliminated Mexico from the 1995 Copa America QF's on penalties after a scorelss draw. :D
Other than that, well put.
Sachin
14 Aug 2002, 06:24 PM
Originally posted by Eric B
Good, maybe you'll remember that we eliminated Mexico from the 1995 Copa America QF's on penalties after a scorelss draw. :D
Other than that, well put.
Where is that "smacks forehead with palm" smiley when you need it. :D
Sachin
whip
14 Aug 2002, 07:29 PM
Hey.... USA 2 /MEXICO 0 KOREA 2002, we whoop that @ss fair and square, PAY BACK TIME.....HOW SWEET IT IS!!!..........
russ
14 Aug 2002, 07:29 PM
I reckon a simple "DOH!" will do...
soccerfan220
14 Aug 2002, 07:41 PM
Benfica go slap ur but and go somewhere else. WE BEAT UR TEAM PROTUGAL< THEY SUCK< WE ROCK>
WHOLMAN2
14 Aug 2002, 09:59 PM
Originally posted by mcontento
obviously you didn't read the ranking methodology, or countless explanations in other threads...:rolleyes:
This thread is a good candidate for being locked as redundant.
What a wonderful welcome given to West Coast Thug, a newbie who joined in August.
None of the countless explanations in the other threads can be read or accessed. Some dudes named Huss and Jonny Quest purged them all. :rolleyes:
Wouldn't blame ya if you didn't come back after your experience with BigSoccer's greeting committee, but welcome to the boards, WCT.
Mr. Oz
15 Aug 2002, 02:02 AM
Like it or not, Mexico did have a better overall performance in Korea. Yeah, we beat them, but that's only because we have their number.
Mexico was consistent during group play, shutting out an aging Croatian team, beating a Ecuador team which we could only muster 1 goal in two meetings this year, and seemed to dominate the Italians for most of the game, only to see them settle for a tie.
We, on the other hand were far from consistent. We almost lost a 3-0 lead to an aging Portugal team, managed to hold a tie against Korea thanks to BF, and got pounded by a Polish team that I believe shouldn't have. We beat Mexico, but that's no biggy (OK, maybe it is). In fact, the only place we can't assume a USA victory over Mexico is in Azteca.
If you graph out the US games you will see a pattern of decline, only to shoot up (US win against Mexico), then settle back down (Germany loss).
6 is a bit to high for Mexico, but I do agree that that they should be one notch above us. But we sure are closing in fast on them. We just don't have the respect yet to be considered any higher yet, and we give our opponents to much respect to be an higher.
My two cents. Take it as it is.
Manifesto
15 Aug 2002, 02:26 AM
Originally posted by Mr. Oz
We, on the other hand were far from consistent. We almost lost a 3-0 lead to an aging Portugal team, managed to hold a tie against Korea thanks to BF, and got pounded by a Polish team that I believe shouldn't have. We beat Mexico, but that's no biggy (OK, maybe it is). In fact, the only place we can't assume a USA victory over Mexico is in Azteca.
If you graph out the US games you will see a pattern of decline, only to shoot up (US win against Mexico), then settle back down (Germany loss).
Okay, hold on there...let's think this over.....
First off, when you describe the Portuguese as an "aging" team, you must also remember that you just praised Mexico for shutting out an "aging" Croatian team.....Now, the thing is, going into the Cup, the "aging" Portuese squad was widely thought of as a darkhouse WC favorite. Granted, they definitly did not live up to potential, but the Croatians are still clearly a notch below...there was virtually no talk of a Croatian repeat of their 98 feats.....
Secondly, concerning your statement that we managed to tie S. Korea only thanks to Friedel....that could be somewhat up to debate. I'm not saying it looked like the US was on its heels for the better part of the match....but in order for the Koreans to even have a chance with the PK, you have to look at the referee's decision on that as very questionable. Frankly, in my opinion (and that probably doesn't carry much weight), it was a terrible decision and/or a decision heavily attributed to the pro-Korea atmosphere of the game. So Friedel mad a fantastic save...that is what gave us the tie...but it never should have come to that, in my opinion.
Third, the Poland game we looked like ***************...I'm not arguing that...but what happens if Donovan's goal isn't called back?...Does the US settle down and start to exert a bit of control on the game? Now, that is delving into the hypothetical, but I still think its important to take a look at, before simply dismissing the US group results as unimpressive.
And finally, the Germany game, although not the result desired, did show that the US can take the game to an opponent, rather than rely on the counter all the time....I wouldn't term that showing as a "dip" in their form.
Now, I know a lot of this is hypothetical/up to interpretation, but such is the game a lot of the time.....
Just a few thoughts....
Originally posted by galperin
2-0. only points that count to me.
Yeah but the United States did not do anything with it.
footfetish
15 Aug 2002, 02:45 AM
Originally posted by Various Styles
2-0. only points that count to me.
Your Celebration only shows the greatness of el Tri :cool:
it could have been slovenia and it would have been a great win... because it was in the WORLD CUP 2nd ROUND...
Various Styles
15 Aug 2002, 03:34 AM
it could have been slovenia and it would have been a great win... because it was in the WORLD CUP 2nd ROUND...
I dont think you would of Dedicated as many threads and included the Victory in Your Signatures if you had beaten Slovenia :D