0 FIFA world football ranking: England move to 5th, Colombia back to top 50.

The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for October edition has been released today. The edition had 136 matches played including Brazil 2014 world cup qualifiers and international friendly games.The world cup and European champions Spain and Germany still leads in FIFA ranking as world cup finalist Netherlands keeps dropping.

England climb to 5th after two Brazil world cup qualifiers.

England 5-0 win over Moldova and 1-1 draw against Ukraine saw them climb to 5th. There is nothing for Roy Hodgson to celebrate as the move is more due to bad performance of other top five teams including 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay which drawn 2 and beaten 4-0 by Colombia.

Atletico Madrid's hitman Falcao and coach Jose Pekerman impact.

Colombia under Colombia managed to climb back to FIFA ranking top 10 after earning highest points than all the teams (259), first appearance since 2002. The team is under Jose Pekerman coach and their squad has Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao whose performance has been incredible both at club and national team. So far has scored 3 in World cup qualifiers including in 3-1 win over Chile and 4-0 against Uruguay. 

2014 World cup host worst ranking could affect 2014 performance.

Brazil, the world cup 2014 host had three consecutive wins in international friendly games. As friendly game has less weights/points, hosts have dropped even more to reach record lowest level, 14th. Of the three wins, only 2-1 win against Argentina was convincing but a narrow win against South Africa and 8-0 win over China would not count that much. Not participating in really competition before 2014 could have a negative impact on Brazil performance in the world cup or Mano Menezes need to pick strong teams for friendly games. 

Superb FIFA cocacola raking progress by Central African Republic

The continuous surprise package in the FIFA ranking is Central African Republic. They rise to 49th and in top 50 for the first time, this time up by 15 places. The African Country has been on successive up move for 7th month in a row. One would like to dig and know what is the secret behind. 

FIFA COCACOLA world football ranking October 3rd 2012

Rank	National team	Points	+/- Pos
1	Spain	1611	0
2	Germany	1459	0
3	Portugal	1259	1
4	Argentina	1208	3
5	England	1196	-2
6	Netherlands	1141	2
7	Uruguay	1140	-2
8	Italy	1106	-2
9	Colombia	1102	13
10	Greece	1029	1

1 Neymar net hat-trick as Chelsea midfielder assisted three and score one in Brazil 8-0 win over China in International friendly (Video highlights)

Is name is Neymar, The Samba boy, wonder kid who displayed poacher or goal getter. 

Santos starlet Neymar scores a hat trick as Brazil rout China 8-0 in international friendly as new Chelsea midfielder Oscar displayed wonderful performance with three assists and score from penalty kick. Three Neymar’s goals all came from tap-ins, watch his first goal, second goal and third goal, the tap-ins showing his predator side similar to the likes of Filippo inzaghi and Hernan Crespo.

Neymar was criticized by Brazil fans for under performance in previous game against South Africa when five time world champions won by only 1-0 thanks to new Zenit St Petersburg signing Hulk. Neymar was quoted asking for fans support for the national team. "I do not ask the fans to like me, but I ask them to cheer for the national team." He said. 

South American team under head coach Mano Menezes is busy on friendly game having been exempted from The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers displayed unfriendly performance to China. The results is China’s worse defeat since 5-0 loss to United States in 1992. World cup qualifiers for Brazil 2014 for South American are currently ongoing where as Argentina is leading the CONMEBOL group.

Brazil vs China goals summary 

Ramires - Brazil (22') 1-0 

Neymar - Brazil (25') 2-0 

Lucas - Brazil (49') 3-0 

Hulk - Brazil (52') 4-0 

Neymar - Brazil (54') 5-0 

Neymar - Brazil (60') 6-0 

Jianye Liu - Brazil (OG 70') 7-0 

Oscar (PG 75') 8-0  

Brazil national team before international friendly match vs China. From left to right David Luiz, Dede, Oscar, Marcelo, Lucas Moura, Ramires, Romulo, Diego Alves, Hulk, Daniel Alves, Neymar.  

Brazil first 11:- Diego Alves, Daniel Alves, Dede, David Luiz, Marcelo, Romulo, Ramires, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Neymar, Hulk 

China first 11:- Cheng Zeng, Zhao Peng, Liu Jianye, Yu Yang, Lupeng, Zhao Xuri, Tang Miao, Zhu Ting, Hao Jumin, Gao Lin, Liu Jian Recife, Brazil.

Video Highlights Brazil vs China all goals. Video credit to BestManagerFootball

0 USA under-20 women beat defending champion German 1-0 to lift FIFA world cup.

A goal from by Kealia Ohai just before half time won USA women under 20 FIFA world cup for the third time after 2002 and 2008, thank to Crystal Dunn great work to assist the goal. It was the first goal Germany the defending champions conceded in the tournament and after 610 minutes in 6 matches, having won group D tie 3-0.

Unites States celebrate women under-20 FIFA world cup. Photo by Getty Image

USA head coach Steve Swanson described how United States learned from the defeat in first game vs Germany. 

USA coach Steve Swanson sport news quotes “We all felt good coming into the game. We knew what Germany was about. Playing them in group play obviously gave us a good perspective of what they can bring. Yes we lost 3-0, and it was very shocking to us, but we learned from our mistakes. Just marking tight in the box and not letting them get any chances they didn’t really deserve.” 

In another FIFA U-20 match for third place, Japan beat Nigeria 2-1 to clinch third place. Japan goals come from Yoko Tanaka and Asuka Nishikawa while Nigeria’s consolation goal was scored by Desire Oparanozie.  USA and Germany women under-20 are still the top teams having shared 5 of the six crowns at this level three for USA and two for Germany. Video by Jeffy2U

0 Sandved player Talat Abunima see red card protesting for penalty kick awarded to him in Norwegian fifth division vs Ild

Sandved player Talat Abunima was red carded while complain about a penalty awarded to him when playing against Ild with Sandved leading 3-1. He tripped and falls in penalty area and referee Nedzad Munjic signal for a penalty kick. Abunima protested a penalty decision to the referee and received yellow card. He continued protesting and was sent off after a second yellow card. Abunima talking to Sandnesposten, he said "I went past an Ild player and then tripped over my own feet. It was unbelievably clumsy of me and when the referee pointed to the spot I felt I had to speak out."

Sandved player Talat Abunima. Picture by http://sandnesposten.no

His protest was supported by his team mate who took the penalty and sending the ball wide deliberately. Super honesty!!! Ild decided to repay Sandved honesty by withdrawing one player from the pitch to make 10 players on the pitch for each teams. Two later penalty awarded by Munjic help Ild to level the score 3-3.

According Norwegian Referees' Association boss Rune Pedersen who withdraw Abunima red card "A referee can change any decision he has taken until the play resumes," And Law of the game by FIFA supported this under decision of international FA board "The referee may only change a decison on realizing that it is incorrect or at his discretion, on the advice of an assitant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match"

However Munjic commented on his decision on VG Nett "It was a clear penalty. The player got it all wrong – I don't think the players know the rules properly. And when I've blown the whistle, I can't change my mind."

0 Lionel Messi won FIFA Ballon d'Or award and FiFPro XI and Neymar clitch FIFA Puskás Award for 2011-2012.

Lionel Messi won his third consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or award after beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi. So far he has won every title and some of them twice but the world cup still a tough one despite the possibilities of playing two more world cups. Individually he performed well, but also get a push fantastic top player like Inesta and second run-up Xavi. Club achievement played a major role and made it easy for him to beat Cristiano Ronaldo. Spanish Liga title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Messi has become the second player after Michel Platini to have won the Ballon D'Or awards in three consecutive years.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi won his third consecutive FIFA Ballon-d'Or award and singer Shakira

FiFPro XI only come from three European teams, Barcelona - 5, Real Madrid 4, and Man Utd – 2 and six of them from Spain national team.

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester Utd), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd).

Other awards
FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year -- Homare Sawa (Japan National team)
FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year -- Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
FIFA Women’s Football Coach of the Year -- Norio Sasaki (Japan women’s national team)
FIFA Presidential Award -- Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
FIFA Fair Play Award -- Japan FA
FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal– Neymar (Santos)

0 FIFA World Cup qualification draws for 2014 in Brazil

The FIFA 2014 World Cup has been scheduled to feature 32 national teams from FIFA six continental confederations. Only the host, The 5 times world cup champions, Brazil will be allowed to participate in world cup finals without competing in qualification draw.. Spain, World cup and European Champions will join other 30 national teams in competing for their place in World cup finals.
The preliminary draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup draw was made on 30 July 2011 at the Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 32 world cup place distribution
1. Europe (UEFA): 13 places
2. Africa (CAF): 5 places
3. Asia (AFC): 4 or 5 places
4. South America (CONMEBOL) 4 or 5 places (Brazil host)
5. North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 or 4 places
6. Oceania (OFC): 0 or 1 place

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification for European zone-UEFA
The road to 2014 world cup for European zone teams will kick off on August 2012 after the Euro 2012. 53 national teams will compete for 13 allocated places for this zone. 9 group winners will automatically enter the world cup finals and eight best runners-up will face play-off for the remaining 4 places.

France recent poor performance pushed them to 15 in FIFA World Rankings world wide and have been drawn with World cup champions, Spain. In the last world cup play-off, France won a controversial play-off win over Ireland to qualify for the 2010 World cup inals in South Africa. France coach Laurent Blanc speaking to French FA's website, he said "At least we won't receive the tag of favourites with the world champions and European champions in our group. It's extremely exciting to compete with the best. It's through such matches that we can improve.''
''It'd be a lie to say that we're in an easy group. But we will focus on our task and France will take its chances as usual.
''Spain will definitely be our toughest opponent in the group. But I have confidence in our team and the goal will be to advance in first place.''

0 Updated FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking top ten ranking Jul 2011: World, CAF and UEFA

New FIFA Cocacola ranking countries soccer rankings have been released for Jul 2011. Previous FIFA ranking was released on Jun 29th 2011. The top three is unchanged still dominated by Spain, Nertheland and Germany, despite both three lossing more than 100 points. The two world cup finalist still lead the ranking. One change in top ten contries, as Uruguay move to top 10, Mexico drop to 20th position from 9th. Uruguay having drop 185 point in previous ranking they have gain 247 points and move to 5th from 18th position after winning the 15th Copa America cup, this being their best ever position. 88 matches taken into account most from Copa America, which saw most of Copa America participant move places above. The next FIFA cocacola ranking will be on 24th Aug 2011.

FIFA COCACOLA WORLD RANKING JUL 2011
No	Country	Points	Position change		Points difference
1	Spain	1588	0		-283
2	Netherlands	1542	0		-119
3	Germany	1305	0		-112
4	Brazil	1202	1		72
5	Uruguay	1156	13		247
6	England	1146	-2		0
7	Portugal	1076	0		30
8	Italy	1059	-2		0
9	Croatia	1033	-1		0
10	Argentina	1013	0		34

FIFA RANKING FOR UEFA - EUROPE NATIONAL TEAMS
Among top ten countries in FIFA cocacola ranking world wide, Seven teams are from UEFA countries, three team that add the list of top ten UEFA countries according to FIFA ranking are Norway, Greece and France and there have been very little movement in UEFA TOP 10.

FIFA COCACOLA RANKING FOR UEFA COUNTRIES JUL 2011
UEFA Ranking	World Ranking	Country	Points	Position change		Points difference
1	1	Spain	1588	0		-283
2	2	Netherlands	1542	0		-119
3	3	Germany	1305	0		-112
6	4	England	1146	-2		0
7	5	Portugal	1076	0		30
8	6	Italy	1059	-2		0
9	7	Croatia	1033	-1		0
12	8	Norway	972	-1		0
13	9	Greece	959	-1		0
15	10	France	920	0		0

FIFA COCACOLA RANKING FOR CAF-AFRICA NATIONAL TEAMS
Côte d'Ivoire leads the CAF - Africa countries, but 14th in FIFA world ranking. Top ten FIFA cocacola - CAF countries ranking is unchanged.

FIFA COCACOLA RANKING FOR CAF-AFRICA COUNTRIES
CAF ranking	World ranking	Country	Points	Position change		Points difference
14	1	Côte d'Ivoire	922	0		0
34	2	Egypt	735	0		8
36	3	Ghana	696	-3		-39
39	4	Burkina Faso	661	-2		0
43	5	Nigeria	635	-2		0
46	6	Senegal	619	-3		0
49	7	South Africa	597	-2		0
50	8	Cameroon	595	-2		0
52	9	Algeria	575	-1		0
55	10	Tunisia	553	2		26