Le Canada maintenant 91e au classement FIFA.

[François]

On est maintenant 10e dans la Football Confederation...




Canadian men fall four places to No. 91 in latest world soccer rankings

NEIL DAVIDSON
Canadian Press


Wednesday, March 17, 2004
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(CP) - Despite not playing the last two months, Canada tumbled four places to No. 91 in the world soccer rankings released Wednesday.

It's Canada's lowest rating since January 2002, when the Canadian men were 92nd. And it marked the 16th month in a row the Canadian rating has remained the same or got worse. It's hardly a distinguished soccer neighbourhood. Canada is sandwiched between Guinea and Syria, tied at No. 89, and Macedonia and Cyprus, both at No. 92. The Canadian men last played Jan. 18 when they defeated Barbados 1-0 in an away friendly.

Canada's highest ranking since FIFA started its calculations in 1993 was No. 40 in December 1996.

To rub salt in the wound, Haiti moved up eight places to overtake Canada, leaving Frank Yallop's side ranked 10th in the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. Haiti stands at No. 86.

Wales, Canada's next opponent in Wrexham on May 30, is ranked 65th.

FIFA, soccer's world governing body, uses a complex mathematical formula to set the monthly rankings.

Despite the complicated calculations, however, it seems inexplicable that an inactive Canada dropped further than any of the other 34 rated CONCACAF countries.

Belize, Canada's first opponent in 2006 World Cup qualifying, fell one place to No. 178.

Should Canada dispatch Belize, it will move to a likely semifinal group with No. 18 Costa Rica, No. 50 Honduras and No. 81 Guatemala. The top two advance to the final round of qualifying in the region.

There was no change atop the FIFA standings.

Brazil remains No. 1, followed by France, Spain, the Netherlands and Mexico.

The Czechs moved up two places to into a tie for No. 6 with England, which rose one rung, and Argentina, which was unchanged. Turkey remained at No. 9 while Germany moved up two spots to No. 10.

Falling out of the top 10 was Italy (No. 11, down one). The U.S. also slipped one spot to No. 12.

Iran, a 3-1 winner over Qatar in World Cup qualifying in February, moved up seven places to No. 24 - its best ever ranking.

Belarus was the best mover of the month, jumping 13 spots to No. 78. Other movers were Hungary (No. 67, up seven), and Cyprus (No. 92, up seven).