FIFA is full of crap!!

[Prosinecki]

I've got to say this, because it makes me sick to my stomach.

I always like to think that there's no hidden agendas by FIFA, but I know better. Now it hit home for me.

How in the world can FIFA justify ranking Croatia 21rst among European nations for the world cup draw for 2002?

We finsihed third at the last world cup, and were ranked 6th at the time of this draw by FIFA's own rankings. Now despite this, they judged that we were the 21rst best nation in europe. How the hell do they justify this?

Belgium, Scotland and Austria, just to name a few, were teams ranked higher than us.

I don't want to sound paranoid, but I'm sure that FIFA doesn't want us at the next world cup. Why else would they rank us 21rst? They have no basis for it, our previous result and our FIFA ranking states that we are much better than 21rst in europe.

I'll bet those queers were fuming when they saw our group. No offence to the Belgians or Scottish, but Belgium was definately the weakest team of the top 9, and Scotland was either the weakest, or second weakest of the second group of 9. Despite our poor ranking, we still got what I consider to be the best draw.

Do I have a point, or am I being paranoid?

[Prosinecki]

One more thing, Austria lost 9-0 to Spain and 5-0 to Israel, yet are a better team than us.

Spain is a good team, but to lose 9-0!!!

Israel is pathetic and the Austrians should have shot themselves in their heads after that slap.

[Lato]

Wow, i sense some anymosity. You are right though. The only thing i could see is that they used whoever qualified for This euro. however was the draw finalized prior to everyone qualifying for euro? Maybe they used the basis that you were no better than 17th because you did not qualify. But than that leads to the question of what the hell are the fifa rankings for anyhow? I a way that is how i feel about Brazil. They could lose ten in a row yet will still be #1. They play nobody decent since WC'98, get killed
3-0 in the final, yet are still #1. France wins wc98, goes on an 15 game unbeaten run, but no #1. I can bet any money that even if france wins euro, and added to that wc98, they will still be behind brazil. HOW?

[gambine]

We all know FIFA is full of crap. The problem is they don't HAVE to justify what they do, they have a free ticket and they use it. It won't always be like this though, there'll be changes.

Lato, that's because Brazil are superior to any of us, even if they lose 10 in a row, they're still the almight Brazil.

Bebeto might suck, but he's a superstar because he's Brazilian, same goes for Junior Baiano.

Roberto Carlos might have a "hard" free kick without any accuracy whatsoever, but he's the best kick taker in the world. Why? Because he's from Brazil.

[Lato]

Like i said, France wins WC98, Euro 2000, but magically Brazil is still number one. Anybody care for an explenation? This truly is ridiculous. FIFA is truly full of crap. What the hell has Brazil done to earn this #1 place. Sure they won Copa America but Euro is much harder to win. The friendlies they play are against Japan, Australia, England, etc... Futile competition. Politics rears its ugly head once again!

[seka]

You have a point, fellas:

Slovenia is 41th, with Zambia, Iran, Israel, Slovakia, Trinidad&Tobago, Tunisia in front of us...

Brazil is still 1st, because Argentina (3rd) recently lost to them... How sick.

[Chris]

Guys LOL,

Don't u know that FIFA bases it's Rankings on TOTAL points? It's from like the past 10 years,thats why Germany is still high.

It sucks but hey....

PS I know this good NT Ranking system,but I forgot the adress. I'll go look and post it...

[seka]

This ranking is very complicated, you can look it up at www.fifa.com (http://www.fifa.com)

I think it goes 8 years back or something, and it is based on

- wining or losing a game
- home or away game
- goals scored in a game
- goals received in a game

Then, it depends on your ranking and opponents ranking. Lesser teams get more points for each category against stronger teams.

Everything is then multiplied by some factor of game importance. For example, you multiply total points for that game with 2 if it is a WC game, but only with 0.85 if it is a friendly...

7 games per year. If you play more, 7 best are used, others are also somehow incalculated as correction of 7 best.


It's very complicated. I think Slovenia will advance at least for 7 places cause we've beaten Czechs (ranked 4th, Slovenia 41st) on their home court and without receiving a goal.

[Chris]

Slovenia should advance alot from that win,and your right about the way they draw it up. I was gonna post all that but I didn't feel like it.


PS Greece-31st!

[seka]

I think Greece deserves to be 31st. It's a fair rank, having in mind that you have participated in WC94 and that you usually play great frendlies.

As for Slovenia, we should be around 30-35 aswell. That's the reality and this Czech win will get us right there.

What I dislike about this FIFA ranking is the fact that big games should be worth much more. Or they should give extra points for qualifying to WC, EURO and stuff like that.

European countries are in worse position than others, being that we have the greatest competition. For example, even England and France missed a WC each in recent years. Something like that could hardly happen to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, cause they don't have the competition we have.

I say a fair ranking should count big tournaments more. Extra points for qualifying, extra points for 2nd stage, extra points for winning. Cause the big tournaments are the actual indicators of a team's strength! Brazil cannot be no.1 when France won both WC and EURO. It's like Sampras would win a Grand Slam and still be second ranked... http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/mad.gif

At present time, WC games are only multiplied by 2 (which goes in minus aswell and that is outrageous) compared to ordinary friendlies. That's humiliating.

What do you guys think about it?

[KiNaBoY]

Yeah, FIFA ranking is full of crap. I never care for it. To me the original idea of having a FIFA ranking is to catch up with the hype of the ATP ranking. They copied the idea but failed miserably. No one knows how the ranking is calculated, and obviously it doesn't reflect the teams' actual form. The Czech Republic was second to Brazil before Euro 2000, but just look how poorly they played (despite some very talented players; Koller out). I don't think they've been unlucky in Euro 2000.

Forget about the FIFA ranking.



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-KiNaBoY

[seka]

Slovenia won Czechs 1-0 away, tie Faroes 2-2 (also away) and jumped from 41st spot to 36th.

That's better. Although we should be in top30...

BTW, Chris, you're only 3 spaces in front of us. Until 1.1. 2001 we'll overatke you already http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Chris]

U have a chance since our group is 20x harder than yours.

But then again which Slovenia will show up? I hope not the 2-2 against Faroe...LOL

[seka]

HAHA, no, not THAT one...

We kick Luxemburg's and Switzerland's ass and we're there http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/smile.gif

[newyorkyanks]

in my opion the top 5 should be like this
1) france
2) brasil
3) argentina
4) italy
5) yugo

what in the hell has the czechs done in the last 4 years

[seka]

Put Holland instead of Yuga and you've got it. Holland was better WC98 and Euro2000, whooping Yuga in the second competition.

Don't suck up to Yugos, my friend, they can be objective aswell.

[gambine]

I think you guys are getting away from the point of this post. The question is how were Croatia ranked 21rst by FIFA for this draw even though they were also ranked 6th by FIFA's own rankings. That's a huge gap there and there's no valid reason for it. Add the 6th place ranking to finishing 3rd last WC and it doesn't add up.

Somebody doesn't want Croatia to make the next WC.

[seka]

Gambine, you ain't going any closer yourself http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[seka]

Slovenia moved up again! We're now equal to Greece (hehe, Chris http://www.worldsoccerboard.com/ubb/wink.gif) at 32nd spot.

This is better. Objective.

I read Switzerland is only 62nd or sth like that. Which is definitely not right, they have a good team.