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OT: Association Football

Gronk

Gronk

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BRAZIL have risen to No.2 in the FIFA rankings behind Argentina, with South American teams taking three of the top four spots.

On the back of underwhelming recent World Cup qualifying performances, the Socceroos have slipped eight spots to 48th.

Argentina lead despite a 3-0 loss to Brazil this month in a World Cup qualifying match. They also have not won a major title in the four-year cycle of results that decide the rankings.

World Cup champions Germany drop one spot to third place, while Copa America champions Chile climb two to No.4.

Costa Rica, up to No.17, swapped with 18th-placed Mexico. The United States dropped four to 28th after losing to both.

Iran lead Asian teams at No.30, falling three places, while Senegal are Africa’s top-ranked team at No.33.

Australia had been ranked 40th but have paid the price the price after playing out draws in three consecutive World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia (2-2), Japan (1-1) and lowly Thailand (2-2).

TOP 20 RANKINGS (last month’s rankings in brackets): 1. Argentina (1) 2. Brazil (3) 3. Germany (2) 4. Chile (6) 5. Belgium (4) 6. Colombia (5) 7. France (7) 8. Portugal (8) 9. Uruguay (9) 10. Spain (10) 11. Switzerland (14) 12. Wales (11) 13. England (12) 14. Croatia (16) 15. Poland (15) 16. Italy (13) 17. Costa Rica (18) 18. Mexico (17) 19. Peru (23) 20. Ecuador (19)

http://www.news.com.au/sport/footba...lSF&utm_source=News.com.au&utm_medium=Twitter
 
phantom eel

phantom eel

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48th in the world... it will be a good achievement to qualify for the final 32 for the world cup - and on recent Socceroo form, not the forgone conclusion we've come to assume.
 
phantom eel

phantom eel

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Mariners messing up my tipping in the first game of the round!

At least with Popa favouring Tyson over Redmayne, Wanderers are still a chance to even up and get the draw.
 
phantom eel

phantom eel

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55% possession, 8 attempts on goal. 6 corners, 17 throw-ins... and the Wanderers still haven't capitalised and put a goal on the board...

At least Bulut lasted until the 43rd minute for his yellow card this week!
 
phantom eel

phantom eel

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Dibs said:
Who is we? I certainly don't assume it
Click to expand...
I mean the "we" that get on here and tell us our domestic competition is improving in quality and bringing great benefits to the national team.

In reality, the Socceroos been going backwards since the early 2000s golden era of Cahill, Kewell, Neill, Aloisi etc all at playing at their peak.
 
Poupou Escobar

Poupou Escobar

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phantom eel said:
I mean the "we" that get on here and tell us our domestic competition is improving in quality and bringing great benefits to the national team.
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You've already been told the domestic comp has only been around for ten years, and it's only picked up in the last three or four. You also agreed it would take about 20 to filter results through to the men's national team. It's about changing Australian soccer culture as much as anything, particularly youth participation. That's why it was essential to get rid of all the ethnic teams.
In reality, the Socceroos been going backwards since the early 2000s golden era of Cahill, Kewell, Neill, Aloisi etc all at playing at their peak.
Click to expand...
They've gone backwards from a freak crest in 2006 because we had the once-in-a-lifetime talent of Harry Kewell playing in our team. He's the only world class attacker Australia has ever produced, and for a playing population our size and the football culture Australian kids grow up in, it's unlikely to happen again any time soon. It's all about numbers, and having the strongest domestic comp we can is the way to push those numbers in our favour. Only caring about Australian soccer when the Socceroos get together will see us continue to hope for a freak talent (whose soccer obsessed English father surely fast tracked his development) to emerge out of nowhere.

As for a short term drop of eight places, it's irrelevant in the context of long term trends. Last year we won the Asian Champions League. This year we've had a couple of draws against the same teams. That's hardly got anything to do with the A-League.
 
Avenger

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My 14 year old son made the local Represenative Team in Youth League for season 2017. So proud of him. There were literally 50 kids trialling for 2 positions as most of the team was retained.

He deserves it. Played like an animal at right back.
 
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S

Suitman

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Avenger said:
My 14 year old son made the local Represenative Team in Youth League for season 2017. So proud of him. There were literally 50 kids trialling for 2 positions as most of the team was retained.

He deserves it. Played like an animal at right back.
Click to expand...

Excellent stuff Avenger.
Mine tried for a YPL team also. Same as you, there were only 2 spots available as they also kept the bulk of last years team, but we had 70 trialling. Needless to say, he didn't make it.
 
Avenger

Avenger

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Suitman said:
Excellent stuff Avenger.
Mine tried for a YPL team also. Same as you, there were only 2 spots available as they also kept the bulk of last years team, but we had 70 trialling. Needless to say, he didn't make it.
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Plenty of kids with ability continually miss out. The politics is everywhere. I was assured he would make Bonnyrigg White Eagles obviously because of my background but I'm not willing to do that. That shit helps nobody.
 
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