FIFA rankings mean shit... for now

I’ve said before that the FIFA World rankings are more or less meaningless if I don’t like the results.  I also said that I’d praise them as scripture if I like what they report.  If you haven’t guessed it by now, I’m back to firmly thinking they’re worth shit.  I’m not at all happy that I had to crop such a large box so Mexico could be included. Blasphemy!

What follows is my tirade of the Top 3 reasons why this is BS:

N0. 1

Out of the 20 teams listed above, only five — 5!! — played any games in this period that went toward their ranking.  Those would be the Latin American teams that took part in the Copa America in Argentina last month — Brazil (#4), Uruguay (#5), Argentina (#10), Chile (#11) and Mexico (#20).

The teams that haven’t done anything should move, bitch. Get out the way.  Instead, they rest on their laurels and see their positions basically unmoved for months on end.  Montenegro, for example.  After some very shallow digging, Montenegro has only played TWO games this year and their average ranking is 101.

Which leads me to point No. 2

Many of the teams I was just blazing against have actually played the last month.  One key arena was the U-17 World Cup held in Mexico.  The Netherlands, England, Germany, France were all present and fighting for the title of the best in the world.  But they came up short.  The team who won and the ones that did so in Hollywood-perfect flair was the young, scrappy Mexican team.

These games aren’t counted toward the ranking because they’re kids.  They’re 17 years old or younger.  Of course they wouldn’t count toward the legitimate Grade A team your nation can produce.

I’m making a point here, stick with me for No. 3

And so, if we’re not going to count the kids because they’re not the first-string team, then why should we count Mexico’s disappointing performance in the Copa America?  That wasn’t their A Team.  Mexico was invited, as it usually is, to fill out the competition since CONMEBOL only has 10 teams.  Because the Gold Cup ended literally days before the start of Copa America, Mexico sent a lesser team, made up primarily of lady-of-the-night-loving sub-22s.

Ok, Ok, that last point was a stretch.  I’m trying to make myself feel better.  And I’m still pissed that Argentina — which showed it matters shit if you have the Best Player in the World — is still in 10th place. Arghh!!