Fifa World Rankings

[Unbelievable Jeff]

So how does Fifa come up with these ludicrous rankings. The latest rankings as of 11th April are as follows

1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. Croatia
5.Portugal
6. Colombia
7. England
8.Italy
9. Netherlands
10. Ecuador

Other notable:

19.Brazil
49. Wales
77. Scotland

The main strange decisions for me are: how are Croatia 4th?, clearly a lot of teams below them are much better. How are Colombia 6th? better than Italy and Netherlands? and how are there 18 better teams in the world than Brazil

However the most ridiculous of all of them in my opinion is that Equatorial Guinea currently sit 4 places above Poland??? Can anybody explain how Fifa work out these rankings please?

[creative_username_1]

I'd imagine they use something like ELO. Where you get more points for beating higher ranked teams than lower ranked (vice versa if you're beaten).

[soggy biscuit]

Brazil are not playing competitive games at the moment, try will continue to drop until after next summers world cup

[Dave the rave]

I'd imagine they use something like ELO. Where you get more points for beating higher ranked teams than lower ranked (vice versa if you're beaten).

Confusion.

[creative_username_1]

I'd imagine they use something like ELO. Where you get more points for beating higher ranked teams than lower ranked (vice versa if you're beaten).

Confusion.

Yep, it's pretty much left up to Jeff Lynne to decide who the best teams are

[Barry the bird boggler]

It's all done by Strange Magic and it's The Way Life's Meant To Be

[Royal With Cheese]

Don't bring me down.

[Sanguine]

So how does Fifa come up with these ludicrous rankings. The latest rankings as of 11th April are as follows

1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. Croatia
5.Portugal
6. Colombia
7. England
8.Italy
9. Netherlands
10. Ecuador

Other notable:

19.Brazil
49. Wales
77. Scotland

The main strange decisions for me are: how are Croatia 4th?, clearly a lot of teams below them are much better. How are Colombia 6th? better than Italy and Netherlands? and how are there 18 better teams in the world than Brazil

However the most ridiculous of all of them in my opinion is that Equatorial Guinea currently sit 4 places above Poland??? Can anybody explain how Fifa work out these rankings please?

It's probably worth visiting the FIFA website. You'll find useful information that explains exactly how it is all calculated (points for winning games, more for beating teams ranked higher than you, more for winning competitive matches and games in major tournaments etc etc). The rankings are based on results.

That, say, Italy would probably beat Croatia in a world cup QF is irrelevant, Croatia have only lost 3 competitive games in 4 years (27 games), and only 2 of 15 friendlies in that time. Italy's competitive record has been good too, of course, at Euro 2012, but their record in friendlies is awful (6 wins in 22 in that same time period).