Socceroos rated world’s sixth-best football nation in shock study – ahead of France and Argentina
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Socceroos have been rated the world’s sixth-best national soccer team in new study, ahead of giants France and Argentina — and if you thought that was shocking, look who came THIRD
- Bizarre football ranking system saw New Zealand in third, Australia in 6th
- Football superpowers Argentina (7th) and France (10th) were under Aussies
- The left field ranking system was based on the national teams with the most trophies
- Australia has won the OFC Nations Cup four times, including the 2015 Asian Cup
With the World Cup in Qatar just 17 days away, the Socceroos have been rated the sixth best soccer nation in the world, according to a new study that is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows.
And even more bizarrely, New Zealand is in third place – ahead of Lionel Messi’s Argentina (seventh) and Kylian Mbappe’s France (tenth).
Ticket Source has released the left field ranking systemwhich they based on the national teams with the most trophies.
Australia is comfortably in the top 10 based on four previous Oceania Nations Cup wins – as well as the success of the 2015 Asian Cup domestically.
The Kiwis have also won the OFC Nations Cup four times.
Brazil has won the World Cup trophy five times – and has also won the Copa América nine times – but is only in fourth place.
With the World Cup in Qatar just 17 days away, the Socceroos have been rated the sixth best football nation in the world in a new study (pictured, midfielder Jackson Irvine)
Australia finished ahead of Lionel Messi’s Argentina (seventh), who will be one of the favorites in Qatar on November 20
Italy leads the standings ahead of Germany, with both elite football nations winning the World Cup four times.
The ranking is also very different from FIFA, which has Brazil ahead of Belgium and Argentina.
France and England round out the top five, with Graham Arnold’s Socceroos in 38th place.
New Zealand – which failed to qualify for Qatar after losing a play-off to Costa Rica in June – are in 105th place.
Come Australia’s first World Cup game against France on November 23, the Socceroos will be outsiders.
According to Sportsbet, France are $1.20 favourites, with the Socceroos paying a whopping $12.
France rounded out the top 10 in the survey, despite winning two World Cups and two European Cups in their rich history
Arnold said after beating Peru in June, qualifying for a fifth consecutive World Cup was one of the ‘greatest achievements ever’ – and it’s hard to argue given many in his A-League roster.
Gone are the days when a number of Aussies played in the English Premier League, Serie A in Italy or the German Bundesliga.
But with rising stars like Central Coast Mariners striker Garang Kuol poised to make himself known to the world, the ‘go for break’ mentality could prove to be a masterstroke in the Middle East.
“We have some good kids,” Arnold said after Australia defeated New Zealand in two friendlies recently.
‘There are some exciting players and some exciting futures for a lot of them.’