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FIFA’s ranking system is under fire after the Matildas somehow dropped out of the top 10 despite making it all the way to the semi-finals at the recent World Cup.
While their skill and bravery captivated a nation, the FIFA analysts must have been asleep at their desk.
Australia have dropped from 10th to 11th while Japan, who were bundled out in the quarter-finals, have risen from 11th to eighth.
FIFA claimed in the official announcement that the Matildas “pay the price for their defeat in that tussle for the final podium place”, alluding to their 2-0 loss to Sweden in the playoff for third place.
Adding to the confusion, Spain are still not ranked No.1 despite winning the Cup, they have jumped from fourth to second with Sweden now queens of the world, at least when it comes to rankings.
The United States dropped from top spot to third after their early exit while the Netherlands rose two spots to seventh, Germany went two ranks the other way to sixth and Olympic champions Canada plunged from seventh to 10th after they were bundled out early on the back of their crushing 4-0 loss to the Matildas.
But despite thrashing Canada, the FIFA system still ranks the Matildas lower than them and not worthy of a spot in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Matildas striker Sam Kerr faces a three-way battle to be crowned Europe’s 2022/23 women’s footballer of the year.
Kerr, along with Spanish duo Aitana Bonmati and Olga Carmona, is in the running for the award presented by European soccer’s governing body UEFA.
The Australian forward scored 29 goals in all competitions last season as Chelsea won their fourth consecutive FA Women’s Super League title as well as the Women’s FA Cup.
She also reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with Australia, scoring one of the goals of the tournament as the Matildas went down 3-1 to England in the last four.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Bonmati and Carmona were part of the Spain team which beat the English 1-0 to win the World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
Bonmati had a stellar domestic campaign with Barcelona, helping the club seal a fourth consecutive Spanish League title as well as winning the Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup.
Carmona scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, but had little success with her club side Real Madrid, who finished second behind Barcelona in the league and runners-up in the Copa de la Reina.
UEFA also announced the candidates for women’s coach of the year, with Barcelona’s Jonatan Giraldez, Spain’s Jorge Vilda and England’s Sarina Wiegman the three final nominees.
The winners will be announced, along with the men’s player and coach of the year, at the 2023/24 Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco on August 31.
with AAP
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