Almost as rapidly as their climb up the world rankings, the Socceroos have plummeted out of the top 20 in the latest list released by FIFA.
Australia fell ten spots from their all-time high of 14th to 24th on Saturday, despite a win, a draw and a loss from their last three matches.
Pim Verbeek’s side beat Oman 1-0 this week and played out a scoreless draw against the third-ranked Netherlands last week, but it was their 3-1 friendly loss to Asian rivals South Korea last month that appears to have cost them.
The Socceroos were among the biggest movers in FIFA’s notoriously-complicated rankings system, joining the likes of Denmark (down 11 places) and Turkey (down 12) in suffering big drops.
Despite the fall in the rankings, which were released to determine the seeded European teams for the playoffs to reach next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Australia remain comfortably the highest-rated team in Asia ahead of Japan in 40th.
There was no change at the top of the rankings with Brazil remaining in front of closing European champions Spain followed by the Netherlands.
World champions Italy leap-frogged Germany to sit in fourth while Argentina’s revived qualification campaign under Diego Maradona helped them climb two places to No.6, ahead of England.
Croatia rose one place to No.8 even though they were eliminated from the World Cup after trailing England and Ukraine in their group.
The seeded teams for the playoffs that will decide the final four European nations going to next year’s tournament in South Africa are France, Portugal, Russia and Greece.
France moved up a place to No.9, Portugal climbed seven spots to No.10, Russia dropped six places to No. 12, while Greece are ranked No.16.
They will be drawn against four non-seeded teams, led by No.22 Ukraine, No.34 Republic of Ireland, No.42 Bosnia and No.49 Slovenia
The playoff draw will be made Monday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
The home-and-away matches are scheduled on November 14 and 18th.
Cameroon were the big movers of the list, jumping 15 places to be ranked 14.
New Zealand rose 17 places to No.83 ahead of their second leg playoff against Bahrain, with a spot at South Africa on the line.
© AAP 2012Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Gulf influence cripples the FFA again (40)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (3)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour?
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess
- Redknapp tight-lipped over England job
- Departing Lavicka has players’ respect
- Victory gain Spanish recruit for Mariners
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (3)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (0)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (0)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (1)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (15)
- Capello ‘walks’ from England’s top job (13)
- Why Manchester United are never really beaten (15)
albatross said | October 18th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
I don’t think Pim gives a toss: http://www.abc.net.au/sport/offsiders/content/2007/s2717107.htm
David said | October 18th 2009 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
The new ranking is probably a fairer reflection of where the Socceroos sit.
Two things that impressed me about the Ireland game- Williams looked good at right back, and Wilkshire was strong as a holding midfielder, doing Cullina’s job. Couldn’t that be a permanent move? It’d certainly inject a bit of pace and freshness about the team.
If we are considering shake-ups, if is possible for Kewell to play striker and Chipperfield to play left wing? Australia doesn’t have that many top quality options in every position, but that has always been the case, and what Guus did pretty well was trying out different combinations and not letting anyone get too comfortable. Maybe it’s time to try things.
jimbo said | October 18th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
Croatia climber to number 8 and didn’t even make the World Cup.
We qualified undefeated and top of the group through Asia. The rankings become a little bit meaningless and there will be plenty of national teams who would claim to be better than us who won’t get to SA 2010.
I don’t think the current Socceroos would beat Uruguay to qualify for a World Cup and New Zealand set to join us if they beat Bahrain.
The WC passage through Asia is the blessing the FFA needed to help continue to grow the game here.
David said | October 19th 2009 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
yea i agree NZ or Bahrain dont deserve to be in the world cup waste of a position