Italy are top of the FIFA World Rankings followed by Argentina and Brazil. England are up to 9th place after two wins in Euro 2008 qualifying matches . Croatia, likely to top England's group, are 10th. Scotland rise to 14th after beating France (6th) in Paris. 1 Italy 2 Argentina 3 Brazil 4 Germany 5 Netherlands 6 France 7 Spain 8 Portugal 9 England 10 Croatia 11 Czech Republic 12 Romania 13 Mexico 14 Scotland 15 Greece 16 Poland

The conventional wisdom is that despite the general disjunction between US sports fans and all things "soccer-philic", we at least take nationalistic pride in the great successes of our world-dominating women's national program. Don't tell that to star US striker Abby Wambach. Despite a no. 1 FIFA ranking and having achieved the semi-finals in the last World Cup only to be ousted by eventual champs Germany--now ranked 2d--the golden-clad US women's team departed this week for the World Cup finals in China with barely a whisper. Why? "It's the 'Mia factor'," Wambach told reporters two days before she helped her side to a warm-up win over Finland, 4-0, at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles.

Brazil are top of the FIFA World Rankings after beating Argentina in the Copa America 2007 . Argentina are second, followed by Italy. England are down in 12th place below Euro 2008 qualifying opponents Croatia now up to 6th. Portugal are 10th. 1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Italy 4 France 5 Germany 6 Croatia 7 The Netherlands 8 Spain 9 Czech Republic 10 Portugal

Brazil are back on top of the FIFA World Rankings after beating Argentina in the Copa America 2007 . Argentina rise to second, followed by Italy. England drop out of the top 10 and are down in 12th place below Euro 2008 qualifying opponents Croatia now up to 7th. Mexico are 10th. 1 Brazil 2 Argentina 3 Italy 4 France 5 Germany 6 Netherlands 7 Croatia 8 Portugal 9 Spain 10 Mexico

Italy stay top of the FIFA World Rankings. Brazil drop to third, Argentina move down to fifth below Germany. England are in 8th after a win in Euro 2008 qualifying . 1 Italy 2 Brazil 3 France 4 Germany 5 Argentina 6 Portugal 7 Spain 8 England 9 Netherlands 10 Czech Republic World Soccer News Soccer betting tips

The sport's world governing body certainly put the cat amongst the South American pigeons last week when it announced that no more games would be played at altitude, for health and safety reasons. This curious and unexpected directive seemed to me at first to have been an arbitrary blow against Ecuador and Bolivia, whose national teams play internationals in their high-altitude capitals. Ecuador qualified for the 2006 World Cup thanks to an unbeaten home record in Quito (elevation 2,800 metres) which included the scalps of traditional South American superpowers Brazil and Argentina.

Italy stay top of the FIFA World Rankings. Brazil leapfrog Argentina to move in to second. England are in 8th after poor Euro 2008 qualifying results. 1 Italy 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 France 5 Germany 6 Netherlands 7 Portugal 8 England 9 Spain 10 Czech Republic World Soccer News Soccer betting tips

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has increased the doubts surrounding South Africa's ability to host the World Cup in three years' time by admitting the world governing body has back-up countries in place, should the hosts fail to be ready in time. England, Spain, Japan and the USA are the reserve hosts, according to Blatter in an interview with the BBC, but only "a natural catastrophe" will derail the African World Cup. England and the USA have already announced their intention to bid for the 2018 finals. Blatter openly backed the South African bid for both 2006 and 2010, and recently referred to it as "a moral obligation", mindful of the continent's votes which got him elected, but only last year he expressed concern that the construction of the ten new or renovated stadia was behind schedule.

After 55 months at the top Brazil are no longer number one! World Champions Italy are the first new number one since November 1993. England stay 6th despite a poor display in losing at home to Spain in a friendly at Old Trafford. Japan move up to 41st position. South Korea jump to 44th position. The USA are in 28th. Croatia are 12th after their good results in Euro 2008 qualifying. Scotland are up six spots to 20th position. 1 Italy 2 Brazil 3 Argentina 4 France 5 Germany 6 England 7 The Netherlands 8 Portugal 9 Czech Republic

Brazil remain top, followed by Italy, Argentina and France. England are down to 6th, down one place as Germany leapfrog them into the top 5. Big climbers are Vietnam. 1 Brazil 2 Italy 3 Argentina 4 France 5 Germany 6 England 7 Netherlands 8 Nigeria 9 Portugal 10 Czech Republic FIFA World Rankings Tags FIFA