12/21/24
August 14, 2002
USA in FIFA top 10!: For the first time ever, the US men's soccer team is ranked one of the top 10. The full rankings are here. btw, we tied for ninth with Italy. Another reason soccer's star will continue to rise in the US? (SpoFi inside joke: can it go from no. 11 most popular sport to no. 10? I think it will rival baseball in just a couple of generations.)
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 12:12 PM - 6 comments
In reality, we'll probably struggle again, with our B team, to qualify for the next WC. From the games I saw of the USA, you've got some damn good players, particularly Landon Donovan who looks like the US equivalent of Michael Owen. I think (much though it pains me to say it) that the 9th place ranking is deserved, and the US shouldn't have too many problems qualifying for the next World Cup.
posted by BigCalm at 03:05 AM on August 15, 2002
I nearly have a complete row in apocalyptic bingo now. All I need is 'labor peace in baseball' to complete it.
posted by tieguy at 08:24 AM on August 15, 2002
In reality, we'll probably struggle again, with our B team, to qualify for the next WC. I think that liam was referring to Brasil with this comment. In reality, though, it is possible that the US will struggle to qualify for the next WC- a lot of early matches end up being played 1) without overseas players and 2) as a sort of proving ground for players in the MLS fighting for a spot. In the ELO ratings, which many consider to be much more reliable than FIFA's, the US is 20th in the world. In the Americas, the US is ranked fourth, behind Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and, strangely, Mexico.
posted by rabi at 08:44 AM on August 15, 2002
Finally. Now we can concentrate on cricket.
posted by Samsonov14 at 08:53 AM on August 15, 2002
The FIFA world rankings are as reliable as a Florida count, but the US team undoubtedly did a lot of good for itself in Korea: now bring on the baseball strike.
posted by etagloh at 01:51 PM on August 16, 2002
While I don't put much pay by these rankings, I just want to point out that our (Brasil's) lead over those second-place wannabes is 10% of their total, a huge gap. Technically, that means we could beat them and everyone else - not just England - with ten men. In reality, we'll probably struggle again, with our B team, to qualify for the next WC.