4/9/2023 0 Comments Slip n slide soccer brazil![]() ![]() Germany have recently held top-ranked side Brazil to a draw as well as beating Slovenia and drawing with Argentina, although as friendly games none of those results have earned Germany points in the ranking system. This year, however, Klinsi's boys could gain ground by winning the Confederations Cup, another major international tournament being hosted by Germany in June. The World Cup hosts should be taken out altogether." "If we win all of our friendly matches we would still slide down the rankings. "The rankings are a bad joke," declared Klinsmann. Jürgen Klinsmann branded the FIFA rankings system a joke Image: AP While seemingly unperturbed by the latest league table of international sides, the Germany coach could barely hide his exasperation at a system which does not take into account the fact that the World Cup hosts do not play any qualification matches and therefore do not pick up any points to help their cause in the run-up to the championships. Since then, as the rest of the world has played for qualification points, Germany have kjept in shape with friendly matches which do not produce ranking points. Germany's slide began after a dismal Euro 2004 campaign in which they were eliminated in the first round without winning a game. Germany's lack of competitive action due to their automatic qualification means that Klinsmann's team were powerless to halt their slide out of the top 20, falling behind the likes of Mexico, the United States, Japan and Iran. Germany may hold the prestigious title of World Cup hosts in 2006 with great hopes of becoming champions at the end of the tournament but anyone casting a curious glance at the FIFA world rankings this month would be excused for thinking that Jürgen Klinsmann's side were rank outsiders.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |