Scotland bid to overtake England in FIFA rankings

[ONEDUNME]

....or so I read in a BBC article earlier, and so they should with their recent performances against some of the best teams in Europe while the auld enemy struggle to beat countries that didn't even exist the last time the Home Internationals were played.

The problem is that the article has vanished. I'm sure it said that they were destined to move to withing two places of England and possibly higher if they beat Italy in their upcoming game. There is even a possibility of them being seeded for world cup 2010 and england not being seeded as the top 9 European teams are given seedings.

Is this the product of an English biased media who have expunged this information, Kremlin like, out of all records. Or is it simply that tonight's Champs League games have overshadowed it for a few hours.

I hope it's the latter. England's prima donnas could do with a touch more embarassment to spur them into action.

Well done Scotland

[ONEDUNME]

Sod's law. Found the bastard the minute after I'd posted

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Scots close in on England ranking

Scots close in on England ranking

James McFadden's goals have taken Scotland to new heights Scotland are on the verge of overtaking England after rising to their highest position in the Fifa world rankings. Despite their 2-0 loss in Georgia, the Scots have moved from 14th to 13th - two places behind England, who fell to 11th from ninth after losing to Russia. The top nine European teams are seeded for the 2010 World Cup qualifers. Argentina head the rankings, Brazil are second, Italy third, the managerless Republic of Ireland are 32nd, Northern Ireland 36th and Wales 58th. FIFA WORLD RANKINGS 1 Argentina 2 Brazil 3 Italy 4 France 5 Germany 6 Spain 7 Holland 8 Portugal 9 Czech Republic 10 Croatia Selected others: 11 England 13 Scotland 32 Republic of Ireland 36 Northern Ireland 58 Wales If Scotland maintain their current position, they will qualify for the second group of seeds, a significant improvement from their Euro 2008 campaign, where they were among the fourth-ranked teams. And their position could improve further if the Scots beat world champions Italy in their final Euro 2008 qualifier on 17 November, a match they must realistically win to reach the finals next year. It is a tough assignment for Alex McLeish's side against the World Cup holders, but they have reason for hope after taking maximum points from their previous home qualifying games against the Faroes, France, Georgia, Lithuania and the Ukraine. England's hopes of finishing in the top nine have been severely dented following their defeat in Moscow.

[Bigkegman]

we have done well but that's a false position tbh but the higher up we get the better cause it'll hopefully make the qualifiers a bit easier - oops what have I said

[ONEDUNME]

A false position?

Do you really think you'd have anything to worry about if you played England in two games home and away just now.

I don't.

[Bigkegman]

If we had all our players fully fit then Yes we would certainly give you a run for your money but if we are missing 1 or 2 of our top players then we don't have much depth in the squad for some key positions

[Winrew]

Found the bastard the minute after I'd posted

You could have looked on the Scotland thread , it was posted this morning

[ONEDUNME]

Racist cunts

[christianu]

Yeah well done the scottish national team, im happy for them.

Scottish club teams though, god they are so boring in Europe, they love going for the 0-0. I hope both Celtic and Rangers dont go through becuase its going to make for some more dire games.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

England would hammer Scotland over 2 legs.

[crowie]

Originally Posted by Kiko

England would hammer Scotland over 2 legs.

Stop being a stupid cunt.

England would PROBABLY beat Scotland over two legs. England tend not to hammer many teams anymore, especially away from home, while Scotland tend not to get hammered anymore. Kegman hits it spot on, with a fully fit first 11 we would have a chance, especially seeing as we seem to play to a tactical game plan which is the same most times now, where as England don't. Lose a few players to injury and we would struggle.

Coming out with pish like "England would hammer them" is baws, away and fuck off down south then.

Anyway, back to the point of the thread seeing as I have had to put another jelly spined Scot in their place for doubting our current team qualities. Its doubtful we will overtake England, even with a win over Italy. Having said that, some poorish results for us will be decreasing in significance come the November rankings such as

Scotland 1 USA 1
Scotland 1 Sweden 4
Holland 6 Scotland 0

as well as Scotland 1 Holland 0

All these results decrease in significance to varying degrees.

England have the Croatia qualifier and the Austria friendly coming up but also will be losing quite a chunk of the Argentina 2 England 3 points gained a couple of years ago.

You lot best watch out for Romania though, above us, below yourselves, two winnable Qualifiers in November v Bulgaria and Albania, results such as losing to Ivory Coast and drawing 1-1 with Armenia start to count for less.

Balls up the Croatia game, they win their two and you could be joining Scotland in pot 2 for WC qualifiers.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

lol

Crowie it was that cnut Jesus when we were drinking last night

Although saying that I do think Scotland would just be edged out but would give the English a good game right now.

[crowie]

Originally Posted by Kiko

lol

Crowie it was that cnut Jesus when we were drinking last night

Although saying that I do think Scotland would just be edged out but would give the English a good game right now.

I did think it was a bit over the top for you. Thought you had defected to the Mickey Paul Camp (notice how those 3 words fit so well together!) of slating Scotland all the time.

Give him a boot in the stones from me the next time you see him

[Winrew]

(notice how those 3 words fit so well together!)

[wazik]

Obviously we are going to thump Italy at Hampden but heres a hypothetical situation. We finish 3rd in our group as do England. Someone somewhere decides its not good enough and its Scotland v England two legged affair for the last qualifing place. First match at Hampden for no reason at all.

How do you price the "to qualify" market?

[MickeyPaul]

I'm just honest Mr Crow. Scotland are one of the most dire football teams on the planet. Incapable of stringing more than 3 passes together. Good at running around and sliding and blocking stuff mind. Yay.