Can someone explain.

[Lato]

How is Brazil still #1 in the world? How does losing WC '98 justify holding that standing. What is the last quality team they have beaten? They tied Columbia in WC'02 qualifying. Squeked out with a tie against England. I don't get it. How many points do they get from sheer reputation?

[Omar]

Brazil still got points for getting 2nd in WC 98. They also got points for winning the Coppa America. I know what you're saying, but they have done a lot previous to the World Cup.

[lilphenom]

look i agree about this i am a huge fan but now that the new rankings have been let out france shuld be number one followed by brazil before the european tournament brazil was and deservedthe number one spot but now i would agree france being # 1 since they have won the WC and EURO

[Garrincha]

I'm gonna throw in my two cents in this argument: Here in Brazil, the FIFA ranking is generally viewed as a joke, and we get the impression that its first rule is, Brazil has to be first. We used to think Havelange had something to do with it, but now there isn't even that explanation. The general impression is that the first place should be France's, and that Argentina should be at least giving us a hard time keeping the second place. The Brazilian team is in a renewal stage, as we're replacing a lot of players from the last two cups (Aldair, Dunga, Leonardo, Bebeto, and some other guys) and the new guys still haven't proved themselves. All in all, our national squad's seen better days. And DEFINITELY shouldn't be 1st in the ranking. But you should do like us: dismiss the ranking as ridiculous and meaningless.

[Severus]

well said and i'm glad even you can see the humour behind the rankings. its like the rankings are contradicting what the final result of the biggest tournament on the fifa calender represents.

[Garrincha]

Hey, I heard that, at LONG last, Brazil has dropped to a second place in the last FIFA ranking! France has at last taken their rightful first place! Whoa, THAT one took a while to happen, huh? Any guesses as to what happened recently to bring this about? Maybe the old guys at FIFA only just saw the tapes from the Euro Cup? Or maybe they just put all the countries' names on a big hat, and take out names to decide the rankings...? Anyway, the FIFA ranking is a joke. But the French deserve the first spot.
I'm Brazilian, but if Brazil just sticks eternally to the first spot, nobody will pay attention when we're back on track, on top, and whuppin' everybody else's ass - which we will eventually, we all know that. Just not in time for the next Cup, I'm sorry to say.:D :dontcare: :worried: :shocked:

[ROM2]

France became N0.1 after Brasil could only draw with peru at home whilst France were beating portugal 4-0 at home! They have retained that position by having a better Concaf which included beating Brasil 2-1 in the semi's. We could argue about the quality of the two respective squads but I don't want to go there!

[Severus]

there's no need. france are better all across the board.

[Garrincha]

I agree, presently France has the better all-around team. But in, say, ten years, Brazil will have a completely new generation, and WILL be one of the world's strongest national sides. Can the french sincerely say their team will be as strong as it is now in ten years?
I'm sorry, I respect the France team, and admire several of their players - two or three of which would have spots in Brazil's squad, were they Brazilian. But Brazil will always be a force to be reckoned with. And France, well, in ten years they may have another powerful squad, but they also may be stuck with a weak team, out of the 'Cup, and remembering the Zidane-Thuram-Vieira team fondly.:D
A crystal ball, anyone?
P.S. Let's take Brazil out of this discussion. Let's use Argentina or Italy as examples. Who is more likely to have a powerful team in ten years? Argentina or France?

[Severus]

i'd say right now italia and argentina have the best youth talent in the world with france coming a close third. brasil will be good, they usually are, but i haven't seen much young talent come out of brasil for a while. its been all argentina.

argentina seems like they're always exporting incredible young talent to the world, and young italian players seem to be very trendy nowadays also. france, by the same token, have been pumping in tonns of cash into every one of their developmental leagues from futbol to basketball to cycling which will make them a viable force in a variety of sports for years to come. you speak of an inevitable decline in france futbol when the greats retire (thuram, zidane, vieira) however i beg to differ. when they retire, that'll give : pires, henry, trezeguet and makelele the opportunity to lead the team into the next decade. on the contrary, france are looking very good for the next 10 years.

[OAnimal]

I think that FIFA rankings take into account the results from the last 5 years. France was nowhere till 1998, while Brazil still won the Confederations Cup (I think it was 1996 or was it 1995?), the competition which is quite meaningful for FIFA. This would explain a bit, Brazil having a top spot in FIFA rankings for so long. I agree that France is the best team now, followed by Argentina and Italy. Brazil should be on places like 10-15. I am sorry to say that since I am great fan of Brazil national team, although I am not Brazilian. They are my favourite side, if I don't take our national team, Slovenia, into account.