UEFA National Team Standings Review

The official National Team Coefficients are out after the last games of the South Africa 2010 World Cup UEFA Qualifiers concluded this October. The coeffients are a representative of the performances the national teams gave in the past. These coefficients will be used to for the Euro 2012 Qualifying Round draw on February 7, 2010 

20% of the rating came from the team's performance in the Germany - World Cup 2006 Qualifiers and Finals Tournament combined.

40% of the rating came from the team's performance in the Austria / Switzerland Euro 2008 Qualifiers and Finals Tournament combined.

40% of the rating came from the team's performance in the Euro 2012 Qualifiers.

As you can see, the more recent performances are put at a higher scale of importance in the ratings. Each team's last 10 official games counting for 40% of the coefficients.

Now onto the list.

#1 - Spain -- 39.964

Without a doubt the top team. Spain was the only team in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers to win all 10 of their games with home and away defeats of the likes of Turkey, Bosnia, Belgium, Estonia, and Armenia. To add to the dismay, they conceded a mere 5 goals in the entire round, 2 of which were after they had cemented their place at the peak and none of which were conceded at home. Also, Spain had won the Euro 2008 Tournament in Austria / Switzerland, not losing a single game in the finals there as well.

#2 - Germany -- 38.294

Topping their group with an undefeated 8-2-0 record against the likes of Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan, and Liechtenstein with Finland being the only team they drew, home and away. Spain defeated Germany in Euro 2008 Final Game and as such, Germany stay in second behind them in the rankings.

#3 - Netherlands -- 37.821

With a stunning performance in the 2008 Euros, bowing out only to surprise performers Russia, they are 3rd in the tables. Like Spain, the Netherlands also won all of their games in their group, but had only 4 opponents rather than 5, and thus played and won only 8 games. Clearly the dominant force in their group with the likes of Norway, Scotland, Macedonia, and Iceland, they did not disappoint and topped the group 14 points above second placed Norway.

#4 - Italy -- 35.838
After scraping out of the group stages at the Euro 2008 Finals and bowing out in the first round to Spain, Italy had some ground to make up, and that is just what they did. With an undefeated record of 7-3-0 they topped their group against the likes of Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Montenegro, and Georgia. I do have to say though, the reason they are ranked 4th would definitely have to do with them being the defending World Cup Champions at the moment, winning the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.

#5 - England -- 34.819

England also almost had a perfect record but lost their 9th game of the group stage away against Ukraine. Even with their performance, I'm surprised to see England in the Top 5 of the Coefficient Rankings. They did last in the 2006 World Cup until the Quarter-Finals, losing out to Portugal. But they still were not qualified for the Euro 2008 Finals Tournament, getting left behind in third place in a very tight group. It gets me wondering, would they have been first had they been in the tournament. I wouldn't put them there but in the end, numbers don't lie. They have all the talent and quality to be 5th in Europe and that's where they are, for now.

#6 - Croatia -- 33.677
#7 - Russia -- 32.587
#8 - France -- 32.231
#9 - Portugal -- 32.100
#10 - Greece -- 30.885
#11 - Czecha Republic -- 30.871
#12 - Sweden -- 30.695
#13 - Switzerland -- 30.395
#14 - Serbia -- 29.811
#15 - Turkey -- 29.477

For a full list of all 53 teams, please click here or look at our sources.

Source:
UEFA, "National Team Coefficients Overview"