Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Brazil remain top of FIFA rankings
Brazil remain top of the FIFA rankings issued today but world champions Italy are closing in fast. One other small thing, Northern Ireland are now ahead of the Republic of Ireland, in 45th place as opposed to 49th for Staunton’s team.
George @ 10:16 AM
Well done our wee country, hard work is really starting to pay off. 124th when Lawrie took over and he isnt exactly coming down with talent to choose from. Hard work and a good team mentality linked with the fantastic development and growth of the fanbase.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:27 AMIt’s not a country, though, is it? It’s a geographical expression.
I find it difficult to get excited about either team - having followed NI in youth and show pony that I am, the Republic in the 90s.
Now they’re both dismal. I am pleased that NI aren’t being humiliated any more, though every time I see that red and white cross flag I am reminded why it is not the team for me…
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:30 AMSay it aint so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:37 AMFantastic result for Northern Ireland.
The rumours were going around a while back that the ‘issues’ Lawrie had with the IFA were around a bonus agreement he had with them that he would get £1,000 for every place that NI went up in the rankings. Allegedly the IFA were trying to backtrack around the time of the Spain game - hence the ‘issues’.
He deserves every penny though.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:40 AMOnwards and upwards.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:44 AMIn all honesty fair play to NI. It’s great to see them doing so well. It looks like the 2 Irelands are swapping places in the world order of football! If ever there was proof that Staunton must go!
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:45 AM‘If ever there was proof that Staunton must go!’
6th post
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:47 AMEnjoy it while you can NI cos it won’t last for long. By the end of the current campaign NI will be back where they belong, behind us ;)
Re:FIFA rankings, it just shows you how big a difference 3-4 games make to the rankings.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:50 AMMaca,
At times like this it’s best to suck it up with as much dignity as one can maintain.
:)
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 10:53 AMMaca,
You are spot on with the rocket science. Winning two matches and drawing another does indeed make a difference to a team’s ranking. Who would have thought it?
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:00 AMCould someone please explain the world rankings
How are Mali 41st best team in the world ???
Who, Where or What is mali ??
If Mali are above northern ireland & the republic, how come noone has ever heard of them.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:00 AMHow did England get fifth? It has already been pointed out Brazil get first place.
Both Irelands suck btw.Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:08 AMPith
“You are spot on with the rocket science. Winning two matches and drawing another does indeed make a difference to a team’s ranking. Who would have thought it?”Where did you learn to read Pith? Or did you? Perhaps you have someone reading the posts for you, then you dictate a response?
My point was that it’s interesting how much a difference just a few matches can make to the rankings. Do try and pay more attention like a good boy.Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:15 AMNobody can argue with the rankings but the reality is that the south has better players at every level. It’s just a matter of getting the managerial act together.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:18 AMIt may a problem of a long period of success too Henry. The Sanchez team remind me of the Charlton team of old, who in turn reminded me of the NI teams of 82 and 86.
The lack of talent almost seems inverse to the capacity for them to play together as a team. A few back to backs and you have the like of young Healy believing he can potentially unlock any defence.
Sure its fragile, as the Iceland result shows. But its great to see at least one Irish team play like an Irish team!
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:26 AMThey provide a good rough guide for how a team has performed, especially since the procedure was revamped recently (like taking in the last 4 years’ results instead of 8). The rankings maybe aren’t an exact science (just like football isn’t either), but for a Northern Ireland supporter who has endured the years of watching our side go into a steady decline (cumulating in the Sammy McIlroy era comedy of errors) while jealously watching the Republic enjoy their rise to reletive success (but hey, fair play to them) this is fantastic news. I think we’re entitled to a wee smile this morning.
Thanks Lawrie!
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:27 AMMaca,
Now don’t be churlish (look it up). You made a silly point which you probably regret. Take a deep breath, eat a Cyprus spud and get over it. And watch out for those billy goats gruff. The little one’s the worst.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:36 AMHenry94 Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:18 AM
‘..the reality is that the south has better players at every level’Then why does the south feel the need to poach the north’s players?
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:38 AMany truth in the rumour that our glorious rise above the partitionist FA was one of the DUP demands at St Andrews?
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:39 AMHad I been living in some 1 or 2 year-long sports coma I would have awoken today with a ‘huh?’
However, based around Northern Ireland’s magnificent form of late, and Ireland’s abismal performances in the same period ("We got a draw… we’re the greatest ever!!! One-point, one-point, one-point!!") I cannot imagine this being any other way.Congratulations and hugs to Northern Ireland, disgust and a healthy bitch-slap to Ireland/FAI (kind of like Sinn Fein/IRA, only more entrenched in antiquated ideals and even less progressive).
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:41 AMmaca Oct 08, 2006 @ 02:13 AM
“Remind me, what team is ranked lower than Uzbekistan?”
No longer maca - in fact NI are 14 places above a country with 20 times the population - but don’t panic - you are still 10 places above the Uzbeks, its just that the gap is closing.
But anyway, as I’ve said before, the rankings are a croc of shite. Based on the last World Cup Brasil are, at best, the 5th best team in the world (below Italy, France, Germany and Argentina at least) yet are still number 1 in the rankings.
To be honest, being above the ROI means little. Being in the top 50 football nations in the world with such a small population is a much greater achievement. Well done to Lawrie Sanchez, the players, the backroom staff and the fans. It probably won’t last but let’s enjoy it while we can.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:45 AMThe way it should be. The breakaway association back where their lack of football heritage demands. The world game has only one heartland in Ireland and that is in the North. Onwards and upwards! Hail Lawrie! Restorer of the natural order!
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:45 AMFair play to NI. I would say that they clearly deserve to be above the RoI at the moment. Sanchez has done a great job with limited players.
However, I think the intelligent NI fans can see that it is a relatively short term situation. In terms of scoring, NI are a 1 man band - if Healey gets injured - the goals dry up.
IMO Staunton will not mature into a good manager and, also, the RoI team is in a period of transition. Neither team will qualify for Euro 2008 and hopefully Staunton will resign at the end. I think Sanchez will go to a low Premiership or decent championship club after this series of qualifiers.
Once the RoI get a decent manager and some of the youngsters come through, I think they’ll go back up above NI.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:48 AM“It’s not a country, though, is it? It’s a geographical expression.”
To some people it is a country and to other people it isn’t. As far as I can see the only way that what is and isn’t a country can be defined is by peoples’ beliefs about their own identity. How else could it be done? Ask God?
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:53 AMPerhaps the thousands of n.i fans who shout sectarian chants like ‘no surrender, will now desist, seeing as they seem to be loosing their inferiority complex.
Posted by on Oct 18, 2006 @ 11:58 AM
