CFU top flight remains the same for February
Guyana Chronicle
February 15, 2007
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The No.1 ranked Cuba and the other top flight teams have kept their positions in the latest Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings.
In FIFA’s issue of its February world rankings yesterday, Cuba slipped three places to 51st in the world but kept their No.1 label in the CFU over Jamaica, who improved one place to No.56 in the world.
Trinidad and Tobago’s impressive run – until Haiti stopped them in the final -- at the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament last month earned them a huge 19-place jump on the world list to No.68.
The Soca Warriors were the second biggest movers in the world this month – only El Salvador, up 31 places, adjusted more significantly – and although they remain No.3 in the CFU, they are now much closer to the leading two teams.
The Haitians have not benefited -- in the rating computations -- from their Digicel Cup triumph and remain at No.92 in the world and fourth in the CFU, as they were last month.
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) moved up four places in the world to No.100 and are now fifth in the CFU, while on the world list, Guyana slipped four places to 104 and Barbados nine spots to 108, to be sixth and seventh respectively, in the CFU.
The CFU’s Top 10 is completed by Suriname (eighth), Bermuda (ninth) and the Dominican Republic 10th.
In the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), ratings, Mexico remain No.1 at 19th in the world, and the USA second at 28th.
Cuba kept their No.3 spot in CONCACAF, ahead of Costa Rica (54th), with Jamaica fifth, Honduras (59th) sixth and Trinidad and Tobago seventh.
Italy, following a successful year that included the 2006 FIFA World Cup title, have unseated Brazil as the world’s top team.
The Italians reclaim the top spot for the first time since November 1993, ending Brazil's remarkable 55-month run at the top of the rankings.
There is otherwise no change to the top five. Brazil are followed by Argentina, France and Germany. Spain return to the top ten for the first time since October last year and are No.10.
Italy knock Brazil off top of world rankings
ZURICH, Germany (Reuters) - World Cup holders Italy have knocked Brazil off the top of FIFA's world rankings after four and a half years.
Brazil, who won the 2002 World Cup but were eliminated by France in last year's quarter-finals, lost top spot after a 2-0 friendly defeat by Portugal last week, FIFA said yesterday.
Italy were last top in November 1993, just three months after rankings were introduced by the game's ruling body.
The rankings, which are used to determine seedings at international tournaments, are based on the results of the past four years with extra weight given to more recent matches.
The strength of the opposition and the nature of the competition are also considered, with tournament and qualifying matches earning more points than friendly games.
The six teams below Italy and Brazil remain unchanged, with Argentina, France, Germany, England, the Netherlands and Portugal occupying spots three to eight.
CFU Rankings – January 2007 (world ranking in brackets)
1. Cuba (51)
2. Jamaica (56)
3. Trinidad & Tobago (68)
4. Haiti (92)
5. St Vincent & the Grenadines (100)
6. Guyana (104)
7. Barbados (108)
8. Suriname (114)
9. Bermuda (118)
10. Dominican Republic (135)
11. Antigua & Barbuda (138)
12. St. Kitts & Nevis (141)
13. Bahamas (148)
14. St Lucia (161)
15. Grenada (165)
16. Turks & Caicos (169)
17. Netherlands Antilles (172)
18. Dominica (180)
19. British Virgin Islands (188)
20. Cayman Islands (191)
21. Puerto Rico (195)
22. Anguilla (197)
23. Aruba (199)
23. US Virgin Islands (199)
23. Montseratt (199)