Ronaldo goals lift Portugal to No. 5 in FIFA rankings
30 Nov 2013 4:08 AM IST
Portugal’s 1-0 and 3-2 wins fueled a nine-place jump in the standings published Thursday as rivals played only friendly matches which score fewer points in the calculations.
FIFA set World Cup seedings for the Dec. 6 draw from October rankings so playoff teams would not gain unfair advantage. Spain lead an unchanged top four from Germany, Argentina and Colombia.
Uruguay are sixth, and No. 7 Italy swap with No. 8 Switzerland which were seventh for one month to clinch seeded status. Netherlands are ninth and host Brazil rise one to No. 10. Seeded Belgium fall six places to No. 11, and are now the lowest-ranked of the eight seeds.
The United States drop one to No. 14, and CONCACAF rival Mexico used its home-and-away playoff wins against New Zealand to rise four places to No. 20. Ivory Coast are the highest ranked African nation, remaining at No. 17.
Iran are best of the Asian confederations teams, rising four to No. 45. Long-time leader Japan fell four to No. 48.
Australia, No. 59, will be the lowest ranked of the 32 World Cup draw teams next week in Zurich.
FIFA set World Cup seedings for the Dec. 6 draw from October rankings so playoff teams would not gain unfair advantage. Spain lead an unchanged top four from Germany, Argentina and Colombia.
Uruguay are sixth, and No. 7 Italy swap with No. 8 Switzerland which were seventh for one month to clinch seeded status. Netherlands are ninth and host Brazil rise one to No. 10. Seeded Belgium fall six places to No. 11, and are now the lowest-ranked of the eight seeds.
The United States drop one to No. 14, and CONCACAF rival Mexico used its home-and-away playoff wins against New Zealand to rise four places to No. 20. Ivory Coast are the highest ranked African nation, remaining at No. 17.
Iran are best of the Asian confederations teams, rising four to No. 45. Long-time leader Japan fell four to No. 48.
Australia, No. 59, will be the lowest ranked of the 32 World Cup draw teams next week in Zurich.
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