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| July 13, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 16, 1427 |
Italy move up to No 2 in redesigned rankings
ZURICH, July 12: Brazil remained No 1 on Wednesday with World Cup champions Italy moving up to No 2 in FIFA's redesigned world soccer rankings.
Under the new ranking system, which changes the criteria for rating the world's top teams, Argentina moved into third place with France No 4 and England No 5.
Except for Brazil, the other top teams all moved up several places from the rankings published before the World Cup. Italy improved 10 places, Argentina six, France four and England improved five.
Rounding out the top 10 were: the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic.
The new system takes into account games played over the last four years instead of the last eight. It also changes the weighting system, with more importance given to World Cup games v friendly games. Regional strength is also considered, as are opponents, goals scored and conceded, and home or away venues.
The United States and Mexico were two of the biggest losers.
The United States, knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, dropped from No 5 to 16. Mexico, who reached the second round, fell from No 4 to 18.
Making up the second 10 in the rankings were: Nigeria, Cameroon, Switzerland, Uruguay, Ukraine, United States, Denmark, Mexico, Paraguay and Ivory Coast.
Rankings (previous in parentheses):
1. (1) Brazil 1630 points; 2. (12) Italy 1550; 3. (9) Argentina, 1472; 4. (8) France 1462; 5. (10) England 1434; 6. (3) Netherlands 1322; 7. (5) Spain 1309; 8. (7) Portugal 1301; 9. (19) Germany 1229; 10. (2) Czech Republic 1223; 11. (11) Nigeria 1149; 12. (15) Cameroon 1109; 13. (35) Switzerland 1028; 14. (22) Uruguay 985; 15. (45) Ukraine 961; 16. (5) United States 933; 17. (11) Denmark 927; 18. (4) Mexico 924; 19. (33) Paraguay 915; 20. (32) Ivory Coast 909.
Other World Cup teams:
22. (16) Sweden 886; 23. (23) Croatia 854; 25. (48) Ghana 839; 28. (39) Ecuador 821; 30. (29) Poland 809; 31. (21) Tunisia 805; 33. (42) Australia 738; 36. (44) Serbia & Montenegro 724; 45. (26) Costa Rica 636; 47. (23) Iran 624; 48. (61) Togo 622; 49. (18) Japan 615; 55. (57) Angola 564; 56. (29) South Korea 557; 64. (47) Trinidad & Tobago 487; 81. (34) Saudi Arabia 399.—AP
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