Sports
July 21, 2006
Brazil still number one

FIFA’s world rankings released last week.

The Brazilians maintained their top spot despite losing the world title.

Newly-crowned champions Italy climbed eleven places up to No.2, with Argentina occupying the third position.{{more}}

European teams dominate the other spots in the top ten.

Losing World Cup Finalist France is No.4, with England No.5.

The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic rank in that order.

The United States of America, which failed to get past the preliminary round in Germany, head the CONCACAF grouping in 16th position, dropping 11 places on their previous rankings.

Mexico are 18th, from their last ranking of No. 4.

Debutantes to the 2006 World Cup, Trinidad and Tobago, which entered the Germany extravaganza as the 47th ranked team in the world, are 64th.

Considered one of the surprise packages in Germany, Trinidad and Tobago maintained its No.1 spot among the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) nations.

Jamaica are second in CFU and 78th on the world stage.

Cuba continue to occupy the third position in the region and are in the top 100, in the 96th position.

Haiti at present are 123rd in the world and 4th in CFU.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines are 6th in CFU standings and 129 overall, behind neighbours St. Lucia which hold the 5th position in the region and 115th on FIFA’s rankings.

Guyana at 131st, St. Kitts at 136th Antigua/Barbuda 145th, and Barbados 152nd round up the Caribbean’s ratings.