FIFA world rankings, what's that all about.

[Tashyboy]

Current world champs 2nd.😳
team beat in World Cup final and South American final 1st 😳
team that won South American final beating team mentioned above, not in top 10. 😳
Are the brown paper envelopes still being handed out .

 

[Tongo]

Like the golf rankings it rewards consistency rather than victories in major tournaments. Thus, for a long time Mexico were in the top 10 cos they played won loads of qualifying games but never got past the last 8 at the World Cup.

 

[Dan2501]

Wales are 10th.........

 

[FairwayDodger]

It's not so much about consistency as getting good results against teams with high ratings at the time. Wales ranking, for example, is artificially high because they beat Belgium who were (also artificially) ranked at #3 (I think) at the time.

So it's a good time to play Wales, chance to improve your ranking!

 

[Ethan]

The rankings were analysed on a BBC Radio 4 stats programme and what they basically said was that some teams dilute their ranking by playing against weaker no name teams. Teams which do this can reduce their average ranking a lot. It is a bit like McIlroy, who has an average of 12 OWGR points playing in an event which only gives 5 to the winner. It can only hurt his ranking.

 

[FairwayDodger]

The rankings were analysed on a BBC Radio 4 stats programme and what they basically said was that some teams dilute their ranking by playing against weaker no name teams. Teams which do this can reduce their average ranking a lot. It is a bit like McIlroy, who has an average of 12 OWGR points playing in an event which only gives 5 to the winner. It can only hurt his ranking.

There was much chat about this when Scotland took on a pointless friendly against Qatar. Arguably, playing them cost us a place in Pot 2 for the WC draw even though we won!

 

[Siren]

The Wales ranking is insane considering they have only beaten Belgium of note in 3 years.

Im Welsh btw

 

[Foxholer]

The rankings were analysed on a BBC Radio 4 stats programme and what they basically said was that some teams dilute their ranking by playing against weaker no name teams. Teams which do this can reduce their average ranking a lot. It is a bit like McIlroy, who has an average of 12 OWGR points playing in an event which only gives 5 to the winner. It can only hurt his ranking.

Also happens (well happened) in Tennis! Miloslav Mecir won a tournament in Auckland many years ago (I got a bad case of sunburnt tops of ears while umpiring him) and went down the rankings because he diluted his 'points earned per tournament'. He was, however, a happy bunny because he was helicoptered from each match to various venues to partake in his obsession - fishing, for which New Zealand is rightly famous!