The current rankings see Brazil rated as only the fourth strongest side in South America, behind Argentina (4th), Uruguay (7th) and Colombia (9th), with Chile are now not far behind in 17th position.
Brazil are currently suffering on two accounts. Firstly, the FIFA ranking system does not award high value to friendly results, while Brazil are currently without competitive fixtures until next summer’s Confederations Cup.
Secondly, the rankings take into account the level of opposition and many of the Seleção’s recent opponents have not been amongst the world’s leading nations. The past month’s victories over South Africa and China, for example, are not valuable according to the FIFA ranking system.
Whilst very few people take rankings as a form of serious measurement, the news does little to ease pressure on Seleção boss Mano Menezes – whose only tastes of competitive fixtures have ended in disappointment.
With Iraq and Japan to come, next month’s rankings could well see Brazil fall once more as their lack of competitive fixtures and similar lack of victories against top ten opposition begin to take their toll.
