Italy maintained sixth place in the FIFA World Rankings, but Brazil have knocked Belgium off the top spot.
The Azzurri risked sliding down the pecking order after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing the play-off 1-0 to North Macedonia.
However, the 3-2 friendly win away to Turkey helped bolster their position and they were able to consolidate sixth place.
There is a change at the top, as Brazil are back in first place for the first time in five years, thanks to their 2019 Copa America triumph and reaching the Copa America Final two years later.
They replace Belgium, who drop to second, with France solid in third, Copa America holders Argentina fourth and England fifth.
The top 10 is completed by Spain, Portugal, Mexico and the Netherlands.
Thanks to their victory over Italy in the World Cup play-offs in Palermo, North Macedonia climbed to 62nd place, just behind Panama.
#Ranking Fifa: il #Brasile nuova capolista, l’#Italia conferma il sesto posto https://t.co/Zo7Ab8flfj pic.twitter.com/e0y10aCMcf
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) March 31, 2022
Italy needs to beat Argentina in June and also to beat Germany and England to proof to the world that we were unlucky in the qualifications!
Yes, If Italy can take care of the teams in Nation League teams and Argentina they will further show proof they are always deserving to be in WC, it was just a fluke goal by NM and a rash of injuries and unlucky outcomes that kept them out. The WCQ needs to be changed back to top 2 teams qualify not this stupid playoff bs.
I wish people would stop giving value to these pathetic FIFA rankings!
This is what I wrote last week. Namely, that friendlies count toward corrupt FiFA ranking algorithm.
The true Vittorio
We have to beat Argentina, Germany, Hungary and England in June to keep us in the top ten. It’s important to be head of the group for Euro qualification draw in October. Otherwise we risk being placed in a very tough qualifying group. Of course the Fifa rankings aren’t a good reflection of strong a team really is but we have to take them seriously for the reason mentioned above.
Gentlemen, please do not blame “injuries”, a “fluke goal”, “unlucky outcomes” or “Jorginho missed penalties”. Would all those things have helped? YES. Would have scoring EVEN 50% of their clear chances when any other team in the world would have scored not put us in this position? YES. Our attack has been disgustingly stale since Euro, PERIOD. Immobile is a joke for the national team, and NOBODY can argue that. Congrats Ciro, you score a lot for Lazio, and your wife is hot…… But you should have been cut by Italy a long time ago. But MOST OF ALL….. Blame Serie A and the owners for CONSTANTLY not allowing the young Italians to play. They have ruined it for everyone. Two World Cups in a row.
Roberto, we weren’t unlucky… we underperformed… but that doesn’t take away from our quality.. we will rise again.
What’s up with all this games in June? England, Germany, etc.. is it Nations League stuff?