Germany tops New FIFA Ranking, Nigeria jumps to 34 as Algeria leads African Nations
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
FIFA has released its latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, and as expected, Four-time world champions, Germany are riding on their success at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as they occupy the number 1 spot.
The World Cup Final against Argentina was also a duel for the leading position in the world ranking – with Joachim Low’s team coming out on top on both counts and Alejandro Sabella’s side falling to number 2.
Germany lead the table for the first time in around 20 years, followed by Argentina and the Netherlands. The Oranje’s third-place finish at the World Cup has lifted them 12 positions up the table and back into the top ten.
Algeria is now the highest ranked African nation, falling to number 24 – down two places – after a spirited loss to Germany in the First Round of the Knockout stages. Cote D’voire follows at number 25 despite a disappointing World Cup sojourn.
Despite suffering a suspension by FIFA, Nigeria is placed at number 34, rising 10 places, after a fairly successful outing in Brazil. Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia occupy the 36th, 38th and 42nd spots respectively even though the North Africans did not qualify for the mundial. Cameroon did not make it to the first 50 places on the list.
All of the teams that exited the World Cup in the quarter-finals have climbed up the ranking: Colombia is now fourth, up four places; Belgium is fifth, up six places, France is tenth, up seven places and Costa Rica has their highest ever ranking at 16th position, up 12 places.
Expected falls on the list include former world champions, Spain who have fallen from the top spot to eighth place, while Portugal is down seven places to 11th, Italy is down five places to 14th, England is 20th, down ten places, and World Cup hosts Brazil have dropped four places to seventh position.
The rankings were decided by the results of 111 international “A” matches, of which 64 were played at the World Cup in Brazil, 46 were friendlies and one was a CONCACAF continental qualifier.
