Young excellence, promotion battles, and a happy farewell: The Australian team of the week from players around the globe
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
The Socceroos have dropped three places to 40th in the latest FIFA rankings after a loss to Norway and draw with Colombia in two friendlies last month.
The Australians were thumped 4-1 in Norway, with the Scandinavians jumping eight places to 49, and drew 0-0 with the 16th-ranked Colombians in London, in the Socceroos’ final warm up games before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Germany remains on top of the world rankings despite losing to No. 2 Brazil in a recent friendly.
The 2014 World Cup champions were beaten 1-0 at home in their last game before squads will be named for this year’s tournament.
Belgium rose two places to No. 3, while Portugal and Argentina each dropped one to Nos. 4 and 5 after losing friendlies. Spain, which beat Argentina 6-1, fell two to No. 8 and Russia fell three to No. 66.
Tunisia, Africa’s highest-ranked team, rose nine places to No. 14, dropping CONCACAF leader Mexico to No. 15. Iran leads the Asian teams at No. 36.
No. 70 Saudi Arabia is the lowest ranked World Cup team.
FIFA rankings for April (last month’s rankings in parentheses):
1. Germany (1)
2. Brazil (2)
3. Belgium (5)
4. Portugal (3)
5. Argentina (4)
6. Switzerland (8)
7. France (9)
8. Spain (6)
9. Chile (10)
10. Poland (6)
11. Peru (11)
12. Denmark (12)
13. England (16)
14. Tunisia (23)
15. Mexico (17)
16. Colombia (13)
17. Uruguay (22)
18. Croatia (15)
19. Netherlands (21)
20. Italy (14)
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…