England Football Online
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FIFA Rankings Overview

Index

Matches 1990-2002

 England Football Online
World Rankings		 1966-78 2002-14
1978-90 2014-26
Summary 1990-2002
The ranking for each year is as at 31 July.
A yellow background highlights the top team, green highlights those teams that are in a higher position than the previous year and red highlights those that are in a lower position than the previous year. A yellow number indicates the team's highest ever ranking at that time.
Country 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Argentina 2 2 3 4 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G2 4 4 G4
Austria G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G4 G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6
Belgium G4 G4 G4 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5 G5 G5 G4 G5
Brazil G3 G3 G3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 1
Bulgaria - - - - 4 G2 G3 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G6
Cameroon G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G5
Croatia - - - - - - - - 3 G3 G3 G3 G5
Czechoslovakia G2 G3 G3 G4

Czechoslovakia split into 2 nations.
Denmark - - - - - - - - G2 4* G2 G2 G3
DPR Korea G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7 G7 G7 G7 G8
England 4 4 4 G2 G3 G3 G2 3 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2
France G3 G2 G2 G3 G4 G4 G3 G2 1 1 2 2 G3
German Democratic Republic G6

Re-unified with West Germany to form Germany.
Germany 1 1 2 3 G2 2 2 2 G2 G2 G3 G2 2
Hungary G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7 G7 G7 G7 G8
Italy 3 3 1 1 2 3 3 4 G2 3 G2 G2 G4
Mexico G3 G4 G4 G4 G4 G3 G3 G3 G4 G4 G4 G5 G4
Netherlands G5 G5 G4 G4 G2 G2 G2 G3 4 G2 1 1 G3
Peru G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G4 G5 G5 G5 G5 G7
Poland G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7 G7 G7 G7 G8
Portugal G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G5 G6 G6 G5 G5 G6
Republic of Ireland G2 G2 G2 G2 G4 G5 G5 G5 G6 G6 G6 G6 G7
Romania - - - - G2 G3 G4 G4 G5 G5 G6 G6 G7
Spain G3 G3 G3 G3 G2 G2 G2 G2 G3 G2 G2 G3 G2
Sweden G4 G4 G4 G4 3** 4 4 G2 G3 G3 G3 G3 G4
Uruguay G4 G3 G2 G2 G3 G4 G4 G5 G6 G6 G6 G6 G6
USSR G3 G3

USSR split into 15 nations.
Yugoslavia G2 G2 G3

Yugoslavia split into 6 nations.

* Denmark were briefly third from February to March 1999.

** Sweden were briefly second from April 1978 up until the World Cup in June 1978.

Games included in the statistics below are those where a country has challenged a team above them (Won or Failed)
and those where they have been challenged by a team below them (Lost or Held).

Performance Statistics 1990-92
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1990 Won Failed Lost Held 1991 Won Failed Lost Held 1992
Argentina 2 - - - 1 2 - - - - 3
Austria G4 - - - - G4 - - 1 1 G5
Belgium G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Brazil G3 - - - - G3 1 - 1 2 G3
Cameroon G2 - 1 - - G2 - - - - G2
Czechoslovakia G2 - - 1 - G3 - 3 - - G3
DPR Korea G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
England 4 - 1 - 3 4 - 1 - 2 4
France G3 1 - - 1 G2 - 2 - 2 G2
Germany 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 1 2
Hungary G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Italy 3 - - - - 3 1 - - 1 1
Mexico G3 - - 1 - G4 - 2 - - G4
Netherlands G5 - - - - G5 1 - - - G4
Peru G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Poland G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Portugal G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Republic of Ireland G2 - 2 - - G2 - 1 - - G2
Spain G3 - 1 - - G3 - 1 - - G3
Sweden G4 - 1 - - G4 - - - - G4
Uruguay G4 1 - - - G3 1 - - 1 G2
USSR G3 - - - 1 G3
Yugoslavia G2 - - - - G2 - - 1 2 G3

Team of the Season 1990-91 - FRANCE
Climbed one place (to Group 2) by beating Czechoslovakia and resisted a challenge from Spain. Uruguay were the only other team
to better their position over the season.

Team of the Season 1991-92 - ITALY
 Ended Germany's four-year run at the top and then held off the Republic of Ireland's challenge in the US Cup.

Performance Statistics 1992-94
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1992 Won Failed Lost Held 1993 Won Failed Lost Held 1994
Argentina 3 - 2 - 1 4 1 - 1 - G3
Austria G5 - 1 - - G5 - 1 - 2 G5
Belgium G4 1 - - - G3 - - - 2 G4
Brazil G3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 1 2 1
Cameroon G2 - - - - G2 - - - - G3
Czechoslovakia G3 - - 1 - G4 - 1 - - -
DPR Korea G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
England 4 - 1 - 1 G2 - - - - G3
France G2 - - 1 1 G3 - - - 1 G4
Germany 2 - 1 1 2 3 2 - 1 2 G2
Hungary G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - - G6
Italy 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 - 2
Mexico G4 - 1 - 1 G4 1 - - - G4
Netherlands G4 - - - - G4 - 2 - - G2
Peru G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - - G5
Poland G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - - G6
Portugal G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Republic of Ireland G2 - - - 1 G2 - - 2 1 G4
Spain G3 - 1 - 1 G3 1 1 - - G2
Sweden G4 - 1 - 1 G4 - 1 - 1 3
Uruguay G2 - 2 - - G2 - 3 - - G3

Team of the Season 1992-93 - BRAZIL
Fought their way from Group 3 back up to second, beating France in Paris and then Germany, before resisting two challenges
from Argentina and one from Germany.

Team of the Season 1993-94 - GERMANY
Put their necks on the line several times and ended the season on top. After hammering Uruguay 5-0, they took second spot from
Brazil, and even though they conceded that to Argentina a month later, they went on to beat Italy to go top. Holding off Spain's
challenge in the World Cup, they then looked set for a successful defence of the trophy, but they were surprisingly dumped out in
the quarter-finals by Bulgaria.

Performance Statistics 1994-96
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1994 Won Failed Lost Held 1995 Won Failed Lost Held 1996
Argentina G3 2 1 - - G2 - 1 - - G2
Austria G5 1 - - - G4 - - - 2 G4
Belgium G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - G4
Brazil 1 - - - 2 1 - - - 1 1
Bulgaria 4 - - 1 - G2 - 2 1 1 G3
Cameroon G3 - - - - G3 - - - - G3
DPR Korea G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
England G3 - 1 - 1 G3 1 1 - - G2
France G4 - - - - G4 1 2 - 2 G3
Germany G2 1 - - - 2 - - - 4 2
Hungary G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Italy 2 - - 1 - 3 - 1 - - 3
Mexico G4 1 - - 1 G3 - - - - G3
Netherlands G2 - - - - G2 - 1 - 1 G2
Peru G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - - G5
Poland G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Portugal G5 - 1 - - G5 - 1 - - G5
Republic of Ireland G4 - - 1 1 G5 - 1 - - G5
Romania G2 - - 1 1 G3 - 2 1 - G4
Spain G2 - - - 1 G2 - - - 2 G2
Sweden 3 - 1 - - 4 - - - - 4
Uruguay G3 - 3 1 1 G4 - - - - G4

Team of the Season 1994-95 - ARGENTINA
Defeated Romania and Bulgaria to rise back up to fourth from Group 3, but unluckily found themselves back in Group 2
when Germany beat Italy. Ended the season by just missing out on the top spot when they almost beat Brazil in the Copa
 América in Uruguay, but a late equalizer rescued their opponents and Brazil won on penalties.

Team of the Season 1995-96 - FRANCE
One of only two teams (England being the other) to rise up the rankings during the season. Beat Romania, in Bucharest, to climb
to Group 3, resisted attempts from Belgium and Romania to dislodge them, before failing to beat Spain and the
Netherlands, though they did knock the Dutch out of the European Championship on penalties.

Performance Statistics 1996-98
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1996 Won Failed Lost Held 1997 Won Failed Lost Held 1998
Argentina G2 - - - - G2 1 - - 1 G2
Austria G4 - - - - G4 - 1 - - G5
Belgium G4 - - - - G4 - 3 - 2 G5
Brazil 1 - - - 4 1 - - 1 1 2
Bulgaria G3 - - - - G3 - 2 - - G4
Cameroon G3 - - - - G3 - 1 - 1 G4
DPR Korea G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G7
England G2 1 2 - 2 3 - - - 1 G3
France G3 2 3 - - G2 - - - - 1
Germany 2 - - - - 2 - 1 - - G2
Hungary G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G7
Italy 3 - 1 1 2 4 - 1 - 1 G2
Mexico G3 - 1 - 1 G3 - - - 2 G4
Netherlands G2 - 1 1 - G3 - - - 2 4
Peru G5 1 2 - - G4 - 1 - 1 G5
Poland G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G7
Portugal G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G6
Republic of Ireland G5 - 1 - - G5 - 3 - - G6
Romania G4 - - - 1 G4 - - - 1 G5
Spain G2 - - - - G2 - - - 1 G3
Sweden 4 - - 1 - G2 - - - - G3
Uruguay G4 - - 1 1 G5 - 1 - - G6

Team of the Season 1996-97 - FRANCE
Beat the Netherlands and Sweden to climb to fourth, but then their own tournament proved to be their downfall. They failed to
beat Brazil in the opening game and found themselves back in Group 2, a day later, when England beat Italy. England then
beat them to resist their attempt to climb back up, with Italy also denying them victory in the final game of the tournament.

Brazil resisted four attempts to deprive them of the top spot, drawing with the Netherlands, France and Italy, and beating England.
All four games were played in Europe.

Team of the Season 1997-98 - ARGENTINA
The only team to climb the rankings during the season. After holding off Bulgaria's challenge, they travelled to Rio and ended
Brazil's run of four years at the top. In the World Cup, they eliminated England, on penalties, before losing to the Netherlands
in the quarter-finals.

Performance Statistics 1998-2000
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 1998 Won Failed Lost Held 1999 Won Failed Lost Held 2000
Argentina G2 - 1 - - G2 1 1 1 1 4
Austria G5 - - - - G5 - - - - G5
Belgium G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - 1 G5
Brazil 2 - - - 4 2 1 - 1 3 3
Bulgaria G4 - 3 - 1 G4 - 1 - - G4
Cameroon G4 - - - - G4 - - - - G4
Croatia 3 - 1 2 1 G3 - 2 - - G3
Denmark G2 1 - 1 - 4 1 1 1 1 G2
DPR Korea G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
England G3 - - - 2 G3 1 - - - G2
France 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 3 2
Germany G2 - 2 - - G2 - - 1 1 G3
Hungary G7 - 1 - - G7 - 2 - - G7
Italy G2 1 - - 2 3 - 2 1 2 G2
Mexico G4 - 1 - 1 G4 - - - - G4
Netherlands 4 - 2 - 1 G2 2 2 - 1 1
Peru G5 - 1 - - G5 - - - 1 G5
Poland G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G7
Portugal G6 - 1 - 1 G6 1 2 - 1 G5
Republic of Ireland G6 - - - - G6 - - - - G6
Romania G5 - - - 1 G5 - - 1 1 G6
Spain G3 1 1 - - G2 - 3 - 2 G2
Sweden G3 - - - 1 G3 - 3 - 1 G3
Uruguay G6 - - - - G6 - 1 - 1 G6

Team of the Season 1998-99 - ITALY
 Won in Copenhagen to take Denmark's newly-acquired third place and resisted challenges by Spain and Croatia.

Just as in the 1996-97 season, Brazil again resisted four challenges, though this time they were in second spot. The Netherlands
(twice), Argentina and Germany all failed to beat them.

Team of the Season 1999-2000 - NETHERLANDS
 Following failed attempts to climb above Denmark and Brazil, they co-hosted the European Championship, where they
defeated Denmark to rise to fourth and then beat the World Champions, France to reach the top of the rankings for the first time.
Though they resisted Italy's attempt to overthrow them in the semi-final, they lost on penalties, their continued top spot remaining
 as a consolation prize as they exited the tournament.

Performance Statistics 2000-02
  Rank Challenges Challenged Rank Challenges Challenged Rank
Country 2000 Won Failed Lost Held 2001 Won Failed Lost Held 2002
Argentina 4 - - - 1 4 1 - 1 2 G4
Austria G5 - - - - G5 - 1 - - G6
Belgium G5 1 1 - - G4 - 1 - - G5
Brazil 3 - 1 - - 3 - - 1 - 1
Bulgaria G4 1 - 1 - G4 - 1 1 - G6
Cameroon G4 - - - - G4 - - - 1 G5
Croatia G3 - - - 1 G3 - - 1 2 G5
Denmark G2 - - - - G2 1 2 - - G3
DPR Korea G7 - - - - G7 - - - - G8
England G2 - 1 - 1 G2 1 2 - 2 G2
France 2 - - - 3 2 - - 1 1 G3
Germany G3 1 1 - - G2 - 1 - - 2
Hungary G7 - 1 - - G7 - 1 - - G8
Italy G2 - - - - G2 - - - 1 G4
Mexico G4 - 1 1 1 G5 2 1 - - G4
Netherlands 1 - - - - 1 - - - 3 G3
Peru G5 - - - - G5 - - 1 - G7
Poland G7 - 1 - - G7 - 1 - - G8
Portugal G5 - - - 2 G5 - - - - G6
Republic of Ireland G6 - 2 - - G6 - - - - G7
Romania G6 - - - 2 G6 - - - 2 G7
Spain G2 - 1 1 - G3 - - - - G2
Sweden G3 - - - - G3 - 3 - - G4
Uruguay G6 - 1 - - G6 1 - - - G6

Team of the Season 2000-01 - GERMANY
Putting aside their disappointments from the European Championship, they crushed Spain 4-1 to rise back up to Group 2.
Defeat in Paris prevented them from taking second spot from France. Belgium were the only other team to finish the season in a
higher position than at the start.

Team of the Season 2001-02 - MEXICO
Hit form at the end of the season, to leap from Group 5 to Group 3, by beating Bulgaria in New York and then Croatia in their
 opening match of the World Cup. They couldn't beat Italy to climb further, though and they then fell to the United States in the last 16.

The Netherlands' run at the top, effectively came to an end when they failed to qualify for the World Cup, despite resisting three
 challenges during the season, from England (twice) and Denmark.

DPR Korea did not play any teams above them in the rankings after the 1966 World Cup and did not play any full internationals
from 1993-98. Consequently, they remained in the lowest group.

GI