Socceroos slip three spots in rankings

The Socceroos has slipped three places to No. 37 in the Official FIFA World Rankings that were released overnight.

The Socceroos has slipped three places to No. 37 in the Official FIFA World Rankings that were released overnight.

The fall came despite winning our only game for the month - 4-0 against Qatar in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. This meant we only picked up a total of two points in the complicated ranking system.

That saw the likes of Switzerland, Serbia, Ecuador, Chile and the Republic of Ireland leap frog over Australia, as they picked up big points from their World Cup qualifying fixtures.

However on a brighter side, Australia has regained the No.1 Asian country mantle, with Japan slipping six places to now be one position below the Socceroos in No.38. They were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Uzbekistan in their last qualifier. The two will clash in February in the first of their two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying games at a yet to be named venue in Japan. Iran is the only other team from the AFC inside the top 50 at No.44.

Spain still heads the rankings list, ahead of Germany who jumped one place ahead of Italy. The Netherlands and Brazil traded places to be fourth and fifth respectively. England was one of the big movers in the top 20, jumping four places to equal 10th.

Australia's next and final match for 2008 is on Wednesday 19th November, when they face Bahrain in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Manama.