FIFA Ranking Analysis of Euro 2012 Qualifying Groups

Here's a brief FIFA ranking analysis of the EURO 2012 qualification draw.

When averaging the current FIFA rankings of the groups from top to bottom, England and Portugal's groups are definitely the toughest. This is due to the tough 'minnows' in those groups with the likes of Wales, Montenegro, Iceland, and Cyprus. These groups also have the closest rank difference between the top and bottom teams.

The toughest groups when averaging only the top three teams are Croatia and Italy's Groups. Croatia will have it tough with Greece and Israel to contend with, while Italy has been grouped with fellow world cup qualifiers, Serbia and Slovenia. The Italian group also has highest ranked 'fourth' team with a quality Northern Ireland team who could definitely cause problems for the top 3.



GROUP A
(6) Germany
(42) Turkey
(61) Austria
(66) Belgium
(114) Azerbaijan
(123) Kazakhstan

GROUP B
(13) Russia
(36) Slovakia
(37) Republic of Ireland
(64) Macedonia
(102) Armenia
(202) Andorra

GROUP C
(3) Italy
(19) Serbia
(33) Slovenia
(40) Northern Ireland
(104) Estonia
(118) Faroe Islands

GROUP D
(7) France
(38) Romania
(48) Bosnia-Herzegovina
(80) Belarus
(97) Albania
(124) Luxembourg

GROUP E
(2) Netherlands
(43) Sweden
(52) Hungary
(54) Finland
(96) Moldova
(203) San Marino

GROUP F
(11) Croatia
(12) Greece
(27) Israel
(49) Latvia
(122) Georgia
(144) Malta

GROUP G
(9) England
(18) Switzerland
(30) Bulgaria
(72) Montenegro
(76) Wales

GROUP H
(5) Portugal
(26) Denmark
(32) Norway
(68) Cyprus
(94) Iceland

GROUP I
(1) Spain
(25) Czech Republic
(46) Scotland
(62) Lithuania
(153) Liechtenstein

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
(24) Ukraine
(57) Poland


GROUP RANK AVERAGE
41.00 - GROUP G (England)
45.00 - GROUP H (Portugal)
52.83 - GROUP C (Italy)
57.40 - GROUP I (Spain)
60.83 - GROUP F (Croatia)
65.67 - GROUP D (France)
68.67 - GROUP A (Germany)
75.00 - GROUP E (Netherlands)
75.67 - GROUP B (Russia)

GROUP TOP 3 TEAMS - RANK AVERAGE
16.67 - GROUP F (Croatia, Greece, Israel)
18.33 - GROUP C (Italy, Serbia, Slovenia)
19.00 - GROUP G (England, Switzerland, Bulgaria)
21.00 - GROUP H (Portugal, Denmark, Norway)
24.00 - GROUP I (Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland)
28.67 - GROUP B (Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland)
31.00 - GROUP D (France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
32.33 - GROUP E (Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary)
36.33 - GROUP A (Germany, Turkey, Austria)

RANK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOP AND BOTTOM SEEDS IN EACH GROUP
67 - GROUP G (ENGLAND-WALES)
89 - GROUP H (PORTUGAL-ICELAND)
115 - GROUP C (ITALY-FAROE ISLANDS)
117 - GROUP A (GERMANY-KAZAKHSTAN)
117 - GROUP D (FRANCE-LUXEMBOURG)
133 - GROUP F (CROATIA-MALTA)
152 - GROUP I (SPAIN-LIECHTENSTEIN)
189 - GROUP B (RUSSIA-ANDORRA)
201 - GROUP E (NETHERLANDS-SAN MARINO)

GROUP WITH THE HIGHEST RANKED 'MINNOWS' (AVG. OF 2 LOWEST RANKED TEAMS)
74.00 - GROUP G (MONTENEGRO, WALES)
81.00 - GROUP H (CYPRUS, ICELAND)
107.50 - GROUP I (LITHUANIA, LIECHTENSTEIN)
110.50 - GROUP D (ALBANIA, LUXEMBOURG)
111.00 - GROUP C (ESTONIA, FAROE ISLANDS)
118.50 - GROUP A (AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN)
133.00 - GROUP F (GEORGIA, MALTA)
149.50 - GROUP E (MOLDOVA, SAN MARINO)
152.00 - GROUP B (ARMENIA, ANDORRA)