Italy have climbed to fifth place in the FIFA World Ranking after their UEFA EURO 2020 victory and 34-match unbeaten run.
Belgium remain the leaders, despite being eliminated from the tournament by Italy in the quarter-finals.
They are followed by Brazil, who lost the Copa America Final to Argentina and France.
Italy are still behind England, the side they defeated on penalties at Wembley Stadium to lift the European Championship trophy last month.
The Azzurri received the biggest boost in points of anyone else in the list, 103 points in just one month, leapfrogging Spain and Portugal, who fall into seventh and eighth place respectively.
Mexico and the USA complete the top 10.
Italy beat 3 top ten teams including England. Why are the Azzurri still below England and Belgium?
@Jai
Because it’s over a long period of time. But they are currently better than any team above them.
Since 1992 when the ‘ranking’ system was introduced by FIFA only 8 teams have held first position: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
Agree this system is a joke
How can italy beat all those teams in the euro and unbeaten in so many games , still ranked 5th on this ladder ?
Then how does Italy go 30 plus games unbeaten still remain in that 7th position all that time
If Italy wouldn’t of done well at euros , who knows what ranking they would be !
Everyone knows , presently who is the top European nation at moment and who is playing the most creative football .
Wait til 2022 World Cup , history tells you that Italy are prone to win their 5th title and equal Brazil .
34 matches unbeaten, beat England, Spain (winners of 2 of the last 3 euro’s) and Belgium who are the apparent best – a team that Italy has been twice in a row at the euro’s. 34 matches without losing, a european championships win, and we’re still ranked lower? OK
To add to what @Jai said – These were not just 3 top ten teams but all these teams were ahead of Italy at the time in the rankings and yet Italy only went up 2 places. What’s the point of this system when winning major tournaments isn’t reflected in the rankings? Belgium have won nothing – not even the “Friendly” Nations League – and yet have been at the top for 3 years.
Italy failed to qualify last WC
Belgium
Euro 2020 – QF
WC 2018 – 3rd place
Euro 2016 – QF
WC 2014 – QF
Italy
Euro 2020 – Winners
WC 2018 – Not qualified
Euro 2016 – QF
WC 2014 – Group stages
Belgium also has more wins in Nations League, so it makes they have a higher ranking.
@FERBAN – Has nothing to do with the period of time. The ranking process is completely flawed. The calculation method includes the difference between the two teams that play so when a team is beaten by a lower ranked team, they end up with negative points. The problem is negative points are excluded in knock out rounds of tournaments.
In other words, if Cameroon (54) were to beat Belgium in the round of 16 at the WC, Belgium wouldn’t lose any points and in effect retain their position. This is another (subtle) way of protecting the elite by ensuring they get favourable seeding for qualifiers and tournaments. The favourable seeding increases the likelihood of these elite teams getting through qualifiers and group stages of tournaments = more money in the pockets of those that control football.
@geedup. Exactly why for two tournaments in a row, England have had largely mediocre sides in their path. At the World Cup, they literally didn’t beat a single team of note. Even vs a Colombia side that was a show of the 2014 team, they got taken to penalties. The 3 really big matches vs Belgium twice and Croatia? Comprehensively outclassed.
Exactly the same situation in the euro. Croatia have been terrible for a while – it was a 0-0 game all day long. Scotland were the better side, and England edged Czech rep, finishing the game with 3 defensive midfielders on the pitch…vs the Czech rep 😂 Then they play Germany – worst German side since euro 2000 and one that has been struggling since 2016…it was one of the worst games I’ve ever watched. My English friend who watched the game with me literally was falling asleep in the second half. England scored whilst Germany missed golden chances in what was a woeful game. then Ukraine – dead on their feet post 120 minutes vs Sweden and average at best. Vs Denmark, the game only went into extra time because of two Danes scoring in normal time. So when the proverbial s*** hit the fan when playing Italy, we knew then what England were made of….wasting time from the 5th minute and parking the bus.
@eddie On that basis then France should be ahead of Belgium in the rankings.
Euro 2020 – Ro16
WC18 – Winners
Euro 2016 – Finals
WC14 – QF
Relax everyone, who gives a $hit about rankings, everyone knows that it’s titles that matter and we’re the European Champions with a glorious history to boot. Football Has Come Back To Rome Ragazzi, still buzzing!!!