Updated FIFA Rankings: Belgium Drops To 49

Last Wednesday FIFA released the updated FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Belgium dropped 3 spots in the rankings from 46 to 49. Their recent friendly loss to Italy, which ended 1-3, hurt the Rode Duivels’ rank. Really a good result from that encounter was not to be expected. We faced arguably the best national team in the world. They did not let their best players sit out either and the match acted as their Euro 2008 warm-up match. The home fan support surely aided their game as well. I think we were lucky to score a single goal against the tough Italian defense. They really are a talented team, and I was shocked to see them go down so easy today in their opening Euro 2008 match today against Belgium’s rival, Netherlands, 3 to 0. Belgium’s upcoming opponents are ranked 20 (Turkey), 121 (Estonia), 78 (Armenia), and 67 (Bosnia-Herzegovina). I think we can easily beat all of those teams except Turkey. Turkey will be a tough team to face in the 2010 World Cup Qualifying. I have been looking at them closely during this year’s Euro tournament. Their offense looked weak against Portugal on Saturday. Nevertheless, the Turks played an experienced and stacked Portugal side. I felt that they ably held their own that match. It really could have been a lot worse considering what the Portuguese brought to the table. The 2008 Olympic Games are coming up soon this summer and Belgium has qualified for the football event. They are in Group C with China, Brazil, and New Zealand. That will be a tough group for the Belgians. Obviously, Brazil in any event is no pushover. Then we also have the host nation that will want to prove themselves at home. The Rode Duivels’ first olympic match is against Brazil on August 7th. I will make sure to keep you guys updated with the Rode Duivels in the Olympics.

Belgium’s Ranking
Ranking Team Total points Change in points
48 Iran 603 3
49 Belgium 600 -3
50 Tunisia 594 3

FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking Top 10
Ranking Team Total points Change in points
1 Argentina 1559 0 39
2 Brazil 1513 0 -5
3 Italy 1424 0 28
4 Spain 1303 0 -20
5 Germany 1274 0 10
6 Czech Republic 1246 0 2
7 France 1143 0 -62
8 Greece 1133 0 -63
9 England 1123 2 25
10 Netherlands 1111 0 -12