Fifa ranking, Argentina is first, France second. Italy remains eighth – Calcio

ROME “Six years later Argentina back to the top of football. The ranking Fifa has been updated: the world champions take the place of the historic rivals of Brazil, who slipped to third place, paying for the 2-1 suffered by Morocco in a friendly. The Seleçao also gives way to Francenow second, while Italy, after the defeat against England and the victory over Malta in the European qualifiers, confirms its eighth position. Blue behind Belgium (fourth), England (fifth), Holland (sixth) e Croatia (seventh). Rounding out the top 10 the Portugal by Cristiano Ronaldo – now ninth – and the Spain. One step away from the top ten Morocco, revelation of the World Cup in Qatar, now eleventh. Curiosity: record of positions gained for the Central African Republic, from 132nd to 122nd; reverse record for Cameroon, which drops nine positions and is now 42nd.

Fifa Ranking, what it is for and how it works

Since 2018 the Fifa World Rankings is based on a new format, which favors merit: the addition or subtraction of points won or lost in matches from the total of previous points. The old model was instead based on the average of the points obtained in a given period of time. Other factors also influence the score, such as the importance of the match and the value of the opponent, which goes from a minimum of 50 to a maximum of 200, if you face the national team first in the ranking. The new formula bridged the gap that had arisen between European and South American national teams and the rest of the world. All teams now have an equal chance to climb the table, which takes into account the results achieved in the last four years. The next ranking will be published on July 20th.

Ranking Fifa, the advantages for those who are in the top positions

Not only prestige is at stake here, but also practical advantages: the top teams are seeded both in the qualifying draws and then in the groups of the World Cup. On the way to the tournament, therefore, the top national teams will be more likely to face weaker sides on paper. A lesson that Italy learned in 2017, when they found themselves in the qualifying group with Spain, finished second and then were eliminated by Sweden in the play-off valid for access to Russia 2018. A fate that the Azzurri would have avoided if they had not presented themselves to the draws from 17th in the ranking.