US team rockets up to #13 in world rankings

[Phillip Oliver Holz]

USA plays no one, thus the FIFA ranking means nothing. The USA team would most likely not qualify for the World Cup if stationed in UEFA or South America.

Unfortunately, this is true.

I wouldn't buy into the whole ranking thing. If Gonzales and Cameron can stay healthy and get some more time playing with each other at center back, then this team has a much better chance than all the other combos that Jurgen has tried.

I just hope that all this hype around Wondo and Beckerman will cease. Those two aren't anywhere near WC class players and should be left off the squad.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Unfortunately, this is true.

I wouldn't buy into the whole ranking thing. If Gonzales and Cameron can stay healthy and get some more time playing with each other at center back, then this team has a much better chance than all the other combos that Jurgen has tried.

I just hope that all this hype around Wondo and Beckerman will cease. Those two aren't anywhere near WC class players and should be left off the squad.

Are these guys getting serious consideration for the WC team or are they simply placeholders for the time being? Wondo unless he's scoring is uselss and he'd have to beat out Altidore, Johnson and the Icelandic kid, I don't think he has a shot. Beckerman, unless we get into injury trouble should not be anywhere near the team. Bedoya either.

 

[ugafan6612]

Bedoya is slightly better than Beckerman and Wondo...but good god Beckerman just sucks.
With that said, yes I agree that none of them are and should not be close the being on our WC roster

 

[xpuctaqpGT]

I'm thinking we beat Jamaica 2-1 tonight.

 

[Yoshi]

FIFA rankings never are taken too seriously anyways.

The U.S. could really benefit from having talented, creative playmakers in the center of their midfield. Bradley is good, but not excellent, and he's not getting much PT over at Roma nowadays.

 

[olympicoscar]

I'm not so sure we wouldn't make it to the WC if we were in South America. After Brazil and Argentina, there is a huge drop off. As for Europe it depends on the luck of the draw. Greece is leading it's group, and we certainly are at their level. Switzerland is also on a par with the US.

 

[bksballer89]

So we won't be in the top pot unless a miracle happens which means when the WC draw comes up which we will be in a group with one of the best

 

[bksballer89]

FIFA will use this month's standings to calculate which seven nations, alongside host Brazil, will be seeded for December's draw.

Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany and Belgium have already secured their places in the top pot

 

[bksballer89]

For the remaining three slots, nine nations are in with a chance of being seeded: Italy, Colombia, Uruguay, Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Switzerland, Chile and England.

Italy, Colombia and Uruguay have a seeding place in their own hands, knowing that victory on Tuesday will guarantee a place among the seeds -- albeit provisionally for Uruguay -- but equally each of the three could miss out. Here's how the nine nations could make or break their World Cup destiny.

ITALY
A victory at home to Armenia (who need to win to keep very slim qualification hopes alive) will guarantee a place, though they could still be seeded with a defeat.
What could go wrong: If they draw, they would only miss out with wins for Colombia, Uruguay* and Switzerland. If they lose, they would miss out with wins for three of Colombia, Uruguay*, Netherlands and Switzerland.

COLOMBIA
A win away to already-eliminated Paraguay will guarantee a place, though they could still be seeded with a defeat.
What could go wrong: If they draw, they would definitely be ranked below Italy; plus wins for two of Uruguay, Netherlands and Switzerland would rule Colombia out. If they lose, they would be ranked below Italy and Uruguay* for certain, therefore a win for one of Netherlands, Switzerland and England would leave Colombia unseeded.

URUGUAY
A win at home to Argentina would guarantee them a place among the seeds if they then go on to qualify.
What could go wrong: Firstly, being in the playoffs and losing to Jordan. If they draw on Tuesday, they would definitely be ranked below Italy; they would then be unseeded with two from: Colombia to avoid defeat, wins for Netherlands and Switzerland. If they lose, they would definitely be ranked below Italy, plus two of Colombia to avoid defeat, wins for Netherlands, Switzerland or England.

For the other nations, they would need results to go their way to be seeded.

 

[bksballer89]

SWITZERLAND
Without a couple of wobbles in qualification earlier this year, the Swiss may have been looking at a certain place among the seeds -- drawing 0-0 in Cyprus and throwing away a 4-1 lead to draw 4-4 at home to Iceland.
That said, a win over Slovenia gives them an excellent chance of being seeded. They would then just need one of Italy, Colombia or Uruguay* to fail to win.

NETHERLANDS
A win away in Turkey could book their place if either Italy lose, or Colombia or Uruguay* fail to win. However, if Switzerland beat Slovenia they will definitely overtake Netherlands; in this event the Dutch would need two of Italy to lose and Colombia or Uruguay* to fail to win.
A draw in Turkey would make it difficult for Netherlands to be seeded as they would definitely be ranked below Italy and Colombia. They would then need Uruguay to fail to qualify, plus Switzerland and England fail to win.
With a defeat in Turkey, Netherlands would again be certain to be ranked below Italy and Colombia. The Dutch would require Uruguay to fail to qualify, Switzerland lose and also England, Portugal, United States and Chile to fail to win.

ENGLAND
England must beat Poland, which would send them to Brazil. But they would definitely be ranked below Italy and Colombia, so they would then need three of the following: Colombia to lose, Uruguay to lose or fail to qualify, plus Netherlands and/or Switzerland fail to win.

PORTUGAL
Are the rank outsiders and would need a miracle to be seeded, as they are definitely ranked below Italy and Colombia. They would have to beat Luxembourg, and of course qualify through a likely playoff at first. Then they would need Uruguay to fail to qualify, plus Netherlands and Switzerland to lose, and no more than a draw for United States, Chile and England (the latter two may also not qualify).

UNITED STATES
In a similar situation to Portugal, but the U.S. would need to beat Panama and for Uruguay to fail to qualify, plus Netherlands and Switzerland to lose, and no more than a draw for Chile and England (who may also not qualify).

CHILE
Again, along the lines of Portugal. They need to beat Ecuador (which would secure qualification) and Uruguay fail to qualify, plus Netherlands lose and no more than a draw for Switzerland and England (who may not qualify).

 

[StoningtonQB]

The FIFA rankings are as meaningful as the AP Top 25 in college basketball. Look at the final rankings compared to a week earlier.