Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
As the U.S. men's national team continues its winless stretch, the team keeps tumbling down the FIFA rankings.
The United States is No. 31 in the latest rankings, down three spots after losses to Costa Rica and Belgium earlier this month. Spain recaptured the top spot from the Netherlands, who falls to No. 2 after a one-month stay atop the world and two victories in European championship qualifying.
Mexico is the highest-ranking CONCACAF team in the world at No. 20, and Egypt, which is getting set to officially introduce Bob Bradley as its head coach, comes in at No. 36.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
GASPERINI AXED BY INTER
It didn't take long for Inter Milan to make a change after an embarrassing loss to recently promoted Novara on Tuesday.
Gian Piero Gasperini was axed as coach after guiding Inter to an 0-2-1 start in league play and a home loss in the opening game of the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Claudio Ranieri is considered the favorite to take over as the fourth Inter coach since Jose Mourinho left following the 2010 season.
FIFA APPOINTS HAYATOU TO OVERSEE OLYMPICS
FIFA is hardly doing itself any favors when it comes to shedding the reputation of being corrupt.
The world's governing body of soccer appointed Issa Hayatou, the current president of the Confederation of African Football, as the head of the soccer tournament at next summer's Olympics in London.
Hayatou is currently under investigation by the International Olympic Committee for corruption after allegedly accepting money from a former FIFA marketing partner two decades ago.
TOURE RETURNS FOR CITY
Following the conclusion of his six-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure will make his return to action in the club's Carling Cup match against Birmingham City on Wednesday.
Toure was suspended in February after his positive test, which he said was triggered by him taking his wife's water tablets that contained a banned diuretic. His suspension ended earlier this month.
EVERTON HOPES TO EXTEND MOYES
Manager David Moyes' contract at Everton doesn't expire until 2013, but the club is hoping to lock him up for the long haul by discussing a contract extension this year.
March will mark Moyes' 10-year anniversary with the club, which lost the likes of Mikel Arteta and Jermaine Beckford in the summer transfer window but is currently in seventh place in the Premier League through four matches.
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What do you think of the United States' ranking? Who would you like to see take over at Inter? What do you think of Hayatou being given Olympic responsibility? How much better off is City with Toure in the mix? Hope to see Moyes stay at Everton?
Share your thoughts below.
So what is he, then? An alien sent to earth to score a lot of goals in the Dutch league?
-1 you twit
31 sounds about right, and I’m surprised we’re that high after our recent slate of games.
Too bad he’s neither of those.
FIFA rankings = background noise.
I’m not surprised that Gasperini was shown the door. Every time he led the team out they looked like a mid-tier team instead of the Coppa Italia winners and Serie A runners-up.
LOL threw away points… are you assuming that with our “A” team, we would’ve been able to gain any points from that game ?
With our then current defense, there’s no way we were taking any points from that game.
So is Brek Shea heading to Europe next year?
USA are a top 20-25 team. If we’re ever ranked top 15, I find it highly suspect
The way the FIFA rankings are structured its means that a win against a lowly ranked opponent in a lowly ranked confederation, ie an El Salvador in Concacaf, even though it is a “competition” like the Gold Cup, would be awarded less points than defeating a highly ranked opponent in a “friendly
Defeating a Spain or an Argentina, or even a team like Belgium in a friendly means almost as many or more in FIFA rankings points than defeating a Guatemala or A Trinidad in a competition like the Gold Cup.
When Bob Bradley fielded a “B” team against Spain (and got thrashed,) he threw away more points than defeating a whole score of Gold Cup opponents.
Are the FIFA rankings really news worthy? How about writing a story about Bigfoot next time? (I know you have to cover the ranking releases, but still).
David Moyes could do some serious damage at a club that is not mired in debt and has owners willing to spend. He constantly finishes in the top 10 with increasingly bare squads. In my mind, the best manager in the Prem. Ferguson is obviously a genius, but he also has funds at his disposal.
FIFA really puts too much emphasis on changing rankings when a team barely strolls out their best… They really should take the fact that that arguably isnt our best team. But, thats not their fault I guess… Thats one reason why Klinsman is there to call the correct people I guess. He has not really so far & I hope he is doing his homework.
Due the US wins at the Gold Cup not count as wins as per FIFA rankings?
Honestly if you look at the teams around the U.S.. Belgium at 34, Colombia at 32, Ghana at 37… can’t really complain too much. I think the U.S. is probably equal to those teams.
Lol, Altidore sitting next to Torres makes him look like a man beast.