Tuesday, December 10, 2013

FIFA Rankings: Top 5 by Language Spoken (Nov 2013)

ARABIC
26 - Algeria
38 - Egypt
49 - Tunisia
62 - Israel
63 - Libya

DUTCH
9 - Netherlands
11 - Belgium
139 - Suriname
173 - Aruba
175 - Curaçao

ENGLISH
13 - England
14 - USA
24 - Ghana
33 - Scotland
36 - Nigeria

FRENCH
8 - Switzerland
11 - Belgium
17 - Cote d'Ivoire
19 - France
42 - Mali

GERMAN
2 - Germany
8 - Switzerland
11 - Belgium
46 - Austria
124 - Luxembourg

PORTUGUESE
5 - Portugal
10 - Brazil
39 - Cape Verde Islands
89 - Angola
111 - Equatorial Guinea

RUSSIAN
22 - Russia
82 - Belarus
116 - Tajikistan
132 - Kazakhstan
146 - Kyrgyzstan

SPANISH
1 - Spain
3 - Argentina
4 - Colombia
6 - Uruguay
15 - Chile


Notes:

Official and Co-Official Languages

Some nations have multiple Official languages (eg Switzerland, Belgium) and appear in the list more than once.

List made using the November, 2013 FIFA Rankings

Some of the most widely spoken languages (eg Mandarin, Hindustani, Bengali, Punjabi, Javanese, Japanese, Korean, etc) were not in the list because they would include less than 5 FIFA nations.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

World Cup Teams - 2010 vs 2014

Qualified for 2010 and 2014:
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Cameroon
Chile
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Honduras
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
United States
Uruguay

Qualified for 2014:
Belgium (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (First Qualification)
Colombia (1998)
Costa Rica (2006)
Croatia (2006)
Ecuador (2006)
Iran (2006)
Russia (2002)

Qualified for 2010:
Denmark
New Zealand
North Korea
Paraguay
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa

World Cup 2014 Elimination Timeline

A timeline of the nations that have been eliminated from the 2014 World Cup starting with Timor-Leste, who were the first nation knocked out in July 2011.
  1. Timor-Leste
  2. Sri Lanka
  3. Mongolia
  4. Chinese Taipei
  5. Macau
  6. Cambodia
  7. Afghanistan
  8. Pakistan
  9. Turks and Caicos
  10. British Virgin Islands
  11. Anguilla
  12. Aruba
  13. Montserrat
  14. Nepal
  15. Laos
  16. Philippines
  17. Kyrgyzstan
  18. Hong Kong
  19. Bangladesh
  20. Turkmenistan
  21. Vietnam
  22. Malaysia
  23. India
  24. Palestine
  25. Maldives
  26. Yemen
  27. Myanmar
  28. Syria
  29. Bahamas 
  30. US Virgin Islands
  31. Barbados
  32. St. Lucia
  33. Curaçao
  34. Cayman Islands
  35. Dominican Republic
  36. Bermuda
  37. Puerto Rico
  38. Dominica
  39. Nicaragua
  40. Belize
  41. Grenada
  42. Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
  43. Tajikistan
  44. North Korea
  45. UAE
  46. Singapore
  47. Indonesia
  48. Haiti
  49. Suriname
  50. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  51. Trinidad & Tobago
  52. Burundi
  53. Madagascar
  54. Chad
  55. Seychelles
  56. Eritrea
  57. São Tomé and Príncipe
  58. Swaziland
  59. Guinea-Bissau
  60. China
  61. Comoros
  62. Djibouti
  63. Somalia
  64. Cook Islands
  65. Tonga
  66. American Samoa
  67. Thailand
  68. Saudi Arabia
  69. Kuwait
  70. Bahrain
  71. Papua New Guinea
  72. Samoa
  73. Vanuatu
  74. Fiji
  75. Cuba
  76. Antigua and Barbuda
  77. Guyana
  78. Tahiti
  79. Solomon Islands
  80. Canada
  81. Guatemala
  82. El Salvador
  83. New Caledonia
  84. Scotland
  85. Lebanon
  86. Kenya
  87. Sudan
  88. San Marino
  89. Lesotho
  90. Central African Republic
  91. Gambia
  92. Zimbabwe
  93. Mozambique
  94. Niger
  95. Rwanda
  96. Iraq
  97. Qatar
  98. Faroe Islands
  99. Namibia
  100. Togo
  101. Angola
  102. Sierra Leone
  103. Tanzania
  104. Morocco
  105. Guinea
  106. Benin
  107. DR Congo
  108. Liberia
  109. Equatorial Guinea
  110. Mali
  111. Oman
  112. Luxembourg
  113. Azerbaijan
  114. Zambia
  115. Wales
  116. Andorra
  117. Moldova
  118. Belarus
  119. Lithuania
  120. Liechtenstein
  121. Kazakhstan
  122. Macedonia
  123. Serbia
  124. Bolivia
  125. Botswana
  126. South Africa
  127. Malawi
  128. Gabon
  129. Congo
  130. Cape Verde Islands
  131. Uganda
  132. Libya
  133. Northern Ireland
  134. Uzbekistan
  135. Georgia
  136. Malta
  137. Cyprus
  138. Estonia
  139. Latvia
  140. Slovakia
  141. Finland
  142. Paraguay
  143. Peru
  144. Poland
  145. Albania
  146. Norway
  147. Austria
  148. Ireland
  149. Czech Republic
  150. Israel
  151. Venezuela
  152. Jamaica
  153. Bulgaria
  154. Denmark
  155. Hungary
  156. Turkey
  157. Slovenia
  158. Armenia
  159. Montenegro
  160. Panama
  161. Ethiopia
  162. Senegal
  163. Tunisia
  164. Egypt
  165. Burkina Faso
  166. Romania
  167. Iceland
  168. Sweden
  169. Ukraine
  170. New Zealand



*Bhutan, Guam, Brunei Darussalam, and Mauritania did not attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.  Mauritius entered qualification but were forced to withdraw before ever playing a game so they were not included in this list.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

World Cup Qualifying Inter-Confederation Playoffs

Aggregate scores of World Cup Inter-Confederation Playoff games since 1986.


2014

AFC 5th Place Play-off Winner v CONMEBOL 5th Place
Jordan v Uruguay (TBD)

CONCACAF 4th Place v OFC Winner
Mexico v New Zealand (TBD)



2010

AFC 5th place v OFC winner
New Zealand 1-0 Bahrain

CONCACAF 4th Place v CONMEBOL 5th Place
Uruguay 2-1 Costa Rica



2006

CONCACAF 4th Place v AFC 4th Round Winner
Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 Bahrain

CONMEBOL 5th Place vs OFC 3rd Round Winner
Australia 1-1 (4-2P) Uruguay



2002

CONMEBOL 5th Place vs OFC winner
Uruguay 3-1 Australia

AFC Play-off Winner v UEFA vs UEFA Group 2 Runner-up
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Iran



1998

AFC Play-off Loser v OFC Winner
Iran 3-3 Australia (Iran progessed on away goals)



1994

CONCACAF runner-up v OFC Winner
Australia 3-3 (4-1P) Canada

CONMEBOL Group 1 Runner-up v OFC Winner
Argentina 2-1 Australia



1990

CONMEBOL 3rd Place v OFC Winner
Colombia 1-0 Israel



1986

UEFA Group 7 Runner-up v OFC Winner
Scotland 2-0 Australia

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Most Improved FIFA Rankings - Oct 2012 to Oct 2013

Current Top 100 teams that have improved 15 or more FIFA ranking positions in the past year (October 2012 to October 2013)

72 - Cuba (146 to 74)
51 - Iceland (97 to 46)
49 - Moldova (145 to 96)
44 - United Arab Emirates (116 to 72)
42 - Costa Rica (73 to 31)

39 - Burkina Faso (91 to 52)
32 - Honduras (66 to 34)
30 - Nigeria (63 to 33)
27 - Northern Ireland (117 to 90)
26 - Albania (84 to 58)

26 - Armenia (64 to 38)
25 - Belgium (30 to 5)
25 - Finland (88 to 63)
24 - Dominican Republic (102 to 78)
23 - Azerbaijan (111 to 88)

23 - Botswana (121 to 98)
23 - Ethiopia (118 to 95)
22 - Ukraine (42 to 20)
21 - Scotland (56 to 35)
19 - USA (32 to 13)

18 - Macedonia (104 to 86)
18 - Togo (93 to 75)
17 - Romania (46 to 29)
16 - Israel (82 to 66)
16 - Congo DR (103 to 87)
15 - Uzbekistan (70 to 55)

Thursday, October 17, 2013

FIFA Best/Worst Ranking - October 2013

Nations currently at their best or worst all-time ranking position in the October 2013 FIFA Rankings.

Best Ranking
1 - Spain
5 - Belgium
38 - Armenia
78 - Dominican Republic
88 - Azerbaijan
137 - Philippines
171 - Guam

Worst Ranking
60 - Republic of Ireland
111 - Canada
177 - Yemen
204 - Macau

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - October 2013

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- September)

4.6 - Europe (+/-0.0)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
5 - Belgium
7 - Switzerland
8 - Netherlands

7.2 - South America (+0.4)
3 - Argentina
4 - Colombia
6 - uruguay
11 - Brazil
12 - Chile

27.6 - CONCACAF (+0.8)
13 - USA
24 - Mexico
31 - Costa Rica
34 - Honduras
36 - Panama

29.2 - Africa (-0.2)
17 - Cote d'Ivoire
23 - Ghana
32 - Algeria
33 - Nigeria
41 - Mali

52.2 - Asia (-0.6)
44 - Japan
49 - Iran
55 - Uzbekistan
56 - South Korea
57 - Australia

139.6 - Oceania (-8.8)
79 - New Zealand
126 - New Caledonia
144 - Tahiti
171 - Solomon Islands
178 - Samoa

Armenia Premier League Club Logos





Alashkert FC

FC Ararat Yerevan

FC Banants

FC Pyunik

Shirak FC

Ulisses FC

Gandzasar FC NGO

FC Mika

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Brazilians in European Leagues 2013/2014

The number of Brazilian players in every top division European league.

113 - Portugal
47 - Italy
38 - Ukraine
35 - Cyprus

29 - Malta
25 - Romania
24 - Azerbaijan
23 - Russia
20 - France

19 - Bulgaria
19 - Greece
18 - Spain
17 - Turkey
16 - Germany

14 - England
13 - Israel
13 - Moldova
13 - Sweden
11 - Hungary

9 - Belgium
9 - Luxembourg
9 - Poland
8 - Finland
7 - Slovakia
5 - Slovenia

4 - Albania
4 - Austria
4 - Netherlands
4 - Switzerland

3 - Armenia
3 - Denmark
3 - Kazakhstan
3 - Serbia

2 - Bosnia/Herzegovina
2 - Croatia
2 - Estonia
2 - Norway

1 - Andorra
1 - Czech Republic
1 - Faroe Islands
1 - Georgia
1 - Latvia
1 - Macedonia
1 - Scotland

0 - Belarus
0 - Iceland
0 - Lithuania
0 - Montenegro
0 - Northern Ireland
0 - Republic of Ireland
0 - San Marino
0 - Wales

Thursday, October 10, 2013

MLS Players with Dual Nationality

Chicago Fire
Bakary Soumaré - Mali/France
Jalil Anibaba - USA/Nigeria
Jeff Larentowicz - USA/Poland
Dilly Duka - USA/Albania
Quincy Amarikwa - USA/Nigeria

Chivas USA
Jaime Frias - USA/Mexico
Carlos Bocanegra - USA/Mexico
Steve Purdy - El Salvador/USA
Carlos Borja - Mexico/USA
Ante Jazic - Canada/Croatia
Emilio Orozco - USA/Mexico
Daniel Antunez - Mexico/USA
Gabriel Farfan - USA/Mexico
Bryan de la Fuente - USA/Mexico
Jorge Villafana - USA/Mexico
Eric Avila - USA/Mexico
Carlos Alvarez - USA/Mexico
Julio Morales - Mexico/USA

Colorado Rapids
Steward Ceus - Haiti/USA
Shane O'Neill - USA/Ireland
Nick LaBrocca - USA/Italy
Edson Buddle - USA/Jamaica
Kamani Hill - USA/Trinidad and Tobago
Danny Mwanga - DR Congo/USA

Columbus Crew
Andy Gruenebaum - USA/Israel
Glauber - Brazil/Italy
Konrad Warzycha - USA/Poland
Agustin Viana - Uruguay/Italy
Matias Sanchez - Argentina/Italy
Kevan George - Trinidad and Tobago/USA
Justin Meram - USA/Iraq

FC Dallas
Ugo Ihemelu - USA/Nigeria
George John - USA/Greece
Micel - Brazil/Italy
Peter Luccin - France/Martinique
Ramón Núñez - Honduras/USA
Kenny Cooper - USA/England

DC United
Dejan Jakovic - Canada/Serbia
Dennis Iapichino - Switzerland/Italy
John Thorrington - USA/South Africa
Dwayne de Rosario - Canada/Guyana
Luis Silva - USA/Mexico
Nick DeLeon - USA/Trinidad and Tobago
Michael Seaton - Jamaica/USA
Conor Doyle - USA/Ireland

Houston Dynamo
Erich Marscheider - USA/Austria
Eric Brunner - USA/Germany
Kofi Sarkodie - USA/Ghana
Andy Driver - Scotland/England
Omar Cummings - Jamaica/USA

Los Angeles Galaxy
Jaime Penedo - Panama/Spain
Omar Gonzalez - USA/Mexico
AJ DeLaGarza - USA/Guam
Kofi Opare - USA/Canada
Pablo Mastroeni - USA/Argentina
Laurent Courtois - France/Reunion
Jack McBean - USA/Scotland

Montreal Impact
Hassoun Camara - France/Senegal
Matteo Ferrari - Italy/Algeria
Patrice Bernier - Canada/France
Hernan Bernardello - Argentina/Italy
Zakaria Messoudi - Canada/Morocco
Felipe - Brazil/Italy

New England Revolution
Jose Goncalves - Portugal/Switzerland
Andrew Farrell - USA/Peru
Ryan Guy - Guam/USA
Andy Dorman - Wales/England
Lee Nguyen - USA/Vietnam
Juan Agudelo - USA/Colombia
Saer Sene - France/Senegal
Dimitry Imbongo - France/DR Congo
Charlie Davies - USA/Gambia

New York Red Bulls
Kevin Hartman - USA/Germany
Ryan Meara - Ireland/USA
Santiago Castano - USA/Colombia
Luis Robles - USA/Puerto Rico
Jamison Olave - Colombia/USA
Matthew Miazga - USA/Poland
Tim Cahill - Australia/Samoa
Jonny Steele - Northern Ireland/USA
Michael Bustamante - Colombia/USA
Sam Lloyd - England/Ghana
Thierry Henry - France/Guadeloupe
Andre Akpan - USA/Ghana
Peguy Luyindula - France/DR Congo
Bradley Wright-Phillips - England/Grenada

Philadelphia Union
Oka Nikolov - Macedonia/Germany
Amobi Okugo - USA/Nigeria
Michael Lahoud - USA/Sierra Leone
Roger Torres - Colombia/USA
Yann Ekra - Cote d'Ivoire/France
Antoine Hoppenot - USA/France

Portland Timbers
Mikaël Silvestre - France/Guadeloupe
Diego Valeri - Argentina/Italy
Sal Zizzo - USA/Italy
Rodney Wallace - Costa Rica/USA
Frédéric Piquionne - Martinique/France

Real Salt Lake
Eduardo Fernandez - USA/Mexico
Josh Saunders - Puerto Rico/USA
Aaron Maund - USA/Trinidad and Tobago
Kyle Beckerman - USA/Germany
Javier Morales - Argentina/Italy
Sebastian Velasquez - USA/Colombia
Robbie Findley - USA/Trinidad and Tobago

San Jose Earthquakes
Jason Hernandez - USA/Puerto Rico
Nana Attakora - Canada/Ghana
Ramiro Corrales - USA/Mexico
Steven Beitashour - Iran/USA
Chris Wondolowski - USA/Poland

Seattle Sounders
Marcus Hahnemann - USA/Germany
Djimi Traore - Mali/France
Osvaldo Alonso - Cuba/USA
Steve Zakuani - DR Congo/England
Obafemi Martins - Nigeria/Italy
David Estrada - Mexico/USA

Sporting Kansas City
Fede Bessone - Argentina/Spain
Ike Opara - USA/Nigeria
Benny Feilhaber - USA/Austria/Brazil
Soony Saad - Lebanon/USA
Teal Bunbury - USA/Canada
Claudio Bieler - Argentina/Ecuador

Toronto FC
Chris Konopka - USA/Poland
Stefan Frei - Switzerland/USA
Quillan Roberts - Canada/Guyana
Doneil Henry - Canada/Jamica
Gale Agbossoumonde - USA/Togo
Ashtone Morgan - Canada/Jamaica
Manny Aparicio - Argentina/Canada
Jonathan Osorio - Canada/Colombia
Bright Dike - Nigeria/USA
Robert Earnshaw - Wales/Zambia

Vancouver Whitecaps
Simon Thomas - Canada/France
Andy O'Brien - Ireland/England
Sam Adekugbe - Canada/England
Nigel Reo-Coker - England/Sierra Leone
Jun Marques Davidson - Japan/USA
Matt Watson - England/USA
Gershon Koffie - Ghana/Canada
Russel Teibert - Canada/Italy
Kekuta Manneh - Gambia/USA
Omar Salgado - USA/Spain
Tommy Heinemann - USA/Germany

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Could Have Been in CONCACAF

Prominent European players that have family roots in CONCACAF-based nations.

Antigua and Barbuda
Emile Heskey (Newcastle Jets)
Colin Kazim-Richards (Bursaspor)

Barbados
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Tom Ince (Blackpool)
Fitz Hall (former Watford)
Tom Soares (Bury)

Canada
Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City)
Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)
Steven Vitoria (Benfica)
Ricardo Ferreira (Olhanense)

Curaçao
Gregory van der Wiel (PSG)
Jetro Willems (PSV)
Vurnon Anita (Newcastle United)
Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa)
Leroy Fer (Norwich City)
Hedwiges Maduro (Sevilla)

Dominica
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Bristol City)
Kieran Agard (Rotherham United)

Grenada
Bradley Wright-Phillips (NY Red Bulls)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (QPR)
Cameron Jerome (Crystal Palace)
Ashley Young (Manchester United)

Guadeloupe (non-FIFA member, CONCACAF member)
William Gallas (free agent)
Eric Abidal (Monaco)
Thierry Henry (NY Red Bulls)
Mikael Silvestre (Portland Timbers)
Sylvain Distin (Everton)
Etienne Capoue (Tottenham Hotspur)
Yoann Gouffran (Newcastle United)
Kevin Theophile-Catherine (Cardiff City)
Dimitri Foulquier (Granada CF)
Allan Blaze (Genoa)
Anthony Martial (Monaco)
Jonathan Biabiany (Parma)
Alexander Lacazette (Olympique Lyonnais)
Julian Jeanvier (Lille OSC)
Daniel Congre (Montpellier)
Jerome Roussillon (Sochaux)
Claude Dielna (Ajaccio)
Jeremy Sorbon (Guingamp)

Guyana
Martin Braithwaite (Toulouse)

Haiti
Nicolas Isimat-Mirin (Monaco)

Jamaica
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Jermaine Pennant (Stoke City)
Ashley Young (Manchester United)
Anthony Gardner (Sheffield Wednesday)
Luke Moore (Elazigspor)
Darren Bent (Fulham)
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Aaron McLean (Hull City)

Martinique (non-FIFA member, CONCACAF member)
Axel Witsel (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Nicolas Anelka (West Bromwich Albion)
Peter Luccin (FC Dallas)
Gael Clichy (Manchester City)
Sylvain Marveaux (Newcastle United)
Joris Marveaux (Montpellier)
Loic Remy (Newcastle United)
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Jordan Loties (Osasuna)
Anthony Modeste (1899 Hoffenheim)
Emmanuel Riviere (Monaco)
Jimmy Briand (Olympique Lyonnais)
Pierre-Yves Polomat (Saint-Etienne)
Steeve Elana (Lille OSC)
Nicolas Maurice-Belay (Bordeaux)
Kevin Anin (OGC Nice)
Garry Bocaly (Montpellier)
Fabrice Pancrate (Nantes)
Johan Audel (Nantes)
Steeven Langil (Guingamp)
Bedi Buval (Academica de Coimbra)

Montserrat
Titus Bramble (free agent)
Lloyd Dyer (Leicester City)

St. Lucia
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Anton Ferdinand (Antalyaspor)
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)

Suriname
Royston Drenthe (Reading)
Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Ryan Babel (Kasimpasa)
Nigel de Jong (AC Milan)
Luciano Narsingh (PSV)
Edson Braafheid (1899 Hoffenheim)
Eljero Elia (Werder Bremen)
Romeo Castelen (RKC Waalwijk)
Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan)
Evander Sno (free agent)
Dwight Tiendalli (Swansea City)

Trinidad & Tobago
Tom Ince (Blackpool)
Bobby Zamora (QPR)

United States
Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion)
Brede Hangeland (Fulham)
Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina)
Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund)
Shawn Parker (Mainz 05)
Yura Movsisyan (Spartak Moscow)
Caleb Patterson-Sewell (Gil Vicente)


I'm sure this list is far from complete, feel free to help add to it in the comments.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Foreign Player Statistics in Top 15 European Leagues

The most represented player nationalities (10+) in the top 15 European Leagues (by UEFA coefficient).

Austria
N/A (9 - Spain)

Belgium
42 - France
11 - Senegal
10 - Netherlands

England
37 - France
32 - Spain
28 - Ireland
21 - Scotland
16 - Netherlands
14 - Wales
14 - Brazil
13 - Belgium
10 - Argentina
10 - Germany

France
21 - Senegal
20 - Brazil
15 - Mali
15 - Cote d'Ivoire
12 - Argentina

Germany
17 - Switzerland
16 - Brazil
12 - Turkey
12 - Austria
12 - Czech Republic

Greece
32 - Spain
29 - Argentina
19 - Brazil
17 - Portugal
11 - Serbia

Italy
48 - Argentina
47 - Brazil
17 - Uruguay
13 - France
13 - Colombia
12 - Serbia
11 - Croatia
11 - Spain
10 - Switzerland

Netherlands
21 - Belgium
14 - Sweden
12 - Denmark
11 - Germany

Portugal
117 - Brazil
11 - Cape Verde
10 - Argentina
10 - Serbia

Romania
25 - Brazil
22 - Portugal

Russia
23 - Brazil
17 - Belarus

Spain
27 - Argentina
19 - Brazil
19 - Portugal
15 - France
11 - Uruguay

Switzerland
N/A (8 - France)

Turkey
17 - Brazil
11 - Senegal
10 - Portugal

Ukraine
38 - Brazil



Foreign Player Stats compiled from TransferMarkt

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

MLS: Top Goal Scorer Salaries

Salaries of MLS players that have scored 8+ goals in the 2013 season.

Goals - Player (2013 Guaranteed Compensation)

19 - Marco Di Vaio ($1,937,508)
18 - Mike Magee ($191,666)
16 - Camilo ($247,500)
13 - Robbie Keane ($4,333,333)
12 - Dominic Oduro ($122,015)
11 - Federico Higuain ($604,000)
11 - Diego Fagundez ($127,196)
11 - Blas Perez ($324,250)
10 - Conor Casey ($175,000)
10 - Claudio Bieler ($200,000)
10 - Alvaro Saborio ($453,333)
10 - Jack McInerney ($189,666)
9 - Thierry Henry ($4,350,000)
9 - Tim Cahill ($3,625,000)
9 - Chris Wondolowski ($600,000)
8 - Diego Valeri ($400,000)
8 - Javier Morales ($300,000)
8 - Landon Donovan ($2,500,000)
8 - Will Bruin ($165,000)
8 - Obafemi Martins ($1,725,000)
8 - Ryan Johnson ($144,704)
8 - Lamar Neagle ($48,400)
8 - Giles Barnes ($184,187)
8 - Darlington Nagbe ($266,000)
8 - Eddie Johnson ($156,333)
8 - Fabian Espindola ($150,000)
8 - Juan Agudelo ($175,000)
8 - Kenny Miller ($1,124,992)


$ per Goal Scored (Salary ÷ Goals Scored)

$6,050 - Lamar Neagle (8)
$10,168 - Dominic Oduro (12)
$10,648 - Mike Magee (18)
$15,469 - Camilo (16)
$17,500 - Conor Casey (10)
$18,088 - Ryan Johnson (8)
$18,967 - Jack McInerney (10)
$18,750 - Fabian Espindola (8)
$19,541 - Eddie Johnson (8)
$20,000 - Claudio Bieler (10)
$20,625 - Will Bruin (8)
$21,875 - Juan Agudelo (8)
$23,023 - Giles Barnes (8)
$29,477 - Blas Perez (11)
$33,250 - Darlington Nagbe (8)
$37,500 - Javier Morales (8)
$45,333 - Alvaro Saborio (10)
$50,000 - Diego Valeri (8)
$54,909 - Federico Higuain (11)
$66,667 - Chris Wondolowski (9)
$101,974 - Marco Di Vaio (19)
$140,624 - Kenny Miller (8)
$215,625 - Obafemi Martins (8)
$312,500 - Landon Donovan (8)
$333,333 - Robbie Keane (13)
$402,778 - Tim Cahill (9)
$483,333 - Thierry Henry (9)



Stats as of October 1, 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

North African Players in Top European Leagues - 2013/2014

Players from the geographic region of North Africa that are currently playing in the top level leagues of England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.




Algeria 

England
Adlène Guédioura - Crystal Palace

France
Salim Arrache - Ajaccio
Nadjib Baouia - Evian TG
Ryad Boudebouz - SC Bastia
Kamel Ghilas - Stade Reims
Faouzi Ghoulam - Saint-Etienne
Féthi Harek - SC Bastia
Foued Kadir - Stade Rennais
Mehdi Mostefa - Ajaccio
Bilal Ouali - Stade Reims

Italy
Ishak Belfodil - Inter Milan
Djamel Mesbah - Parma
Saphir Taider - Inter Milan

Spain
Yacine Brahimi - Granada
Liassine Cadamuro - Real Sociedad
Sofiane Feghouli - Valencia
Mehdi Lacen - Getafe
Hassan Yebda - Granada


Chad
None


Egypt

England
Ahmed Elmohamady - Hull City
Gedo - Hull City

Italy
Ahmed Hegazy - Fiorentina


Libya
None


Mali

England
Jimmy Kébé - Crystal Palace
Modibo Maïga - West Ham United
Yacouba Sylla - Aston Villa

France
Cheick Diabaté - Bordeaux
Drissa Diakité - SC Bastia
Sigamary Diarra - Ajaccio
Tongo Doumbia - Valenciennes
Mohamed Fofana - Stade Reims
Cédric Kanté - Sochaux
Sidy Koné - Lyon
Adama Niane - Nantes
Mamadou Samassa - Guingamp
Oumar Sissoko - Ajaccio
Birama Touré - Nantes
Abdou Traoré - Bordeaux
Kalilou Traoré - Sochaux
Mahamane Traoré - OGC Nice
Mustapha Yatabaré - Guingamp

Italy
Mamadou Samassa - Chievo Verona


Mauritania

France
Adama Ba - SC Bastia


Morocco

England
Oussama Assaidi - Stoke City
Marouane Chamakh - Crystal Palace
Karim El Ahmadi - Aston Villa
Adel Taarabt - Fulham

France
Karim Aït-Fana - Montpellier
Rachid Alioui - Guingamp
Chahir Belghazouani - Ajaccio
Nabil Dirar - AS Monaco
Abdelhamid El Kaoutari - Montpellier
Yassine Jebbour - Montpellier
Mounir Obbadi - AS Monaco
Adrien Regattin - Toulouse

Germany
Mohamed Amsif - FC Augsburg

Italy
Mehdi Benatia - AS Roma
Omar El Kaddouri - Torino

Spain
Zakarya Bergdich - Real Valladolid
Issam El Adoua - Levante
Youssef El Arabi - Granada
Mounir El Hamdaoui - Malaga
Nabil El Zhar - Levante


Niger
None


South Sudan
None


Sudan
None


Tunisia

France
Aymen Abdennour - Toulouse
Fahid Ben Khalfallah - Bordeaux
Saber Khalifa - Olympique Marseille
Wahbi Khazri - SC Bastia
Jamel Saihi - Montpellier
Saad Trabelsi - Nantes

Germany
Sami Allagui - Hertha BSC
Änis Ben-Hatira - Hertha BSC
Karim Haggui - VfB Stuttgart
Ahmed Sassi - TSG Hoffenheim

Italy
Yohan Benalouane - Parma
Karim Laribi - US Sassuolo




FIFA Rankings of Region:
28 - Algeria
38 - Mali
46 - Tunisia
50 - Egypt
70 - Libya
74 - Morocco
102 - Niger
140 - Sudan
150 - Mauritania
158 - Chad
205 - South Sudan



Map picture from wikimedia commons

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

CONCACAF: All-Time Best FIFA Rankings

The best all-time FIFA ranking of every nation in CONCACAF.

4 - Mexico
4 - USA
17 - Costa Rica
20 - Honduras
25 - Trinidad & Tobago

27 - Jamaica
35 - Panama
38 - Haiti
40 - Canada
46 - Cuba

49 - El Salvador
50 - Guatemala
73 - St. Vincent and the Grenadines
76 - Bermuda
83 - Antigua and Barbuda

84 - Suriname
86 - Dominican Republic
86 - Guyana
88 - Grenada
92 - Barbados

97 - Puerto Rico
106 - St. Kitts and Nevis
108 - St. Lucia
118 - Netherlands Antilles
127 - Cayman Islands

128 - Belize
128 - Dominica
132 - Nicaragua
138 - Bahamas
146 - Curaçao

149 - Aruba
149 - US Virgin Islands
158 - Turks and Caicos
160 - British Virgin Islands
174 - Montserrat
189 - Anguilla

Monday, September 23, 2013

FIFA World Cup Seeded Team Results

All-time results of FIFA World Cup seeded teams from 1930-2010

Format:
World Cup Year - (Number of Teams)
WC Finishing Position - Nation (Round Eliminated)

South Africa 2010 - (32)
1 - Spain (Winners)
2 - Netherlands (Runners-up)
3 - Germany (SF)
5 - Argentina (QF)
6 - Brazil (QF)
13 - England (16)
20 - South Africa* (Group Stage)
26 - Italy (Group Stage)

Germany 2006 - (32)
1 - Italy (Winners)
2 - France (Runners-Up)
3 - Germany* (SF)
5 - Brazil (QF)
6 - Argentina (QF)
7 - England (QF)
9 - Spain (16)
15 - Mexico (16)

Korea/Japan 2002 - (32)
1 - Brazil (Winners)
2 - Germany (Runners-Up)
4 - South Korea* (SF)
5 - Spain (QF)
9 - Japan* (16)
15 - Italy (16)
18 - Argentina (Group Stage)
28 - France (Group Stage)

France 1998 - (32)
1 - France* (Winners)
2 - Brazil (Runners-Up)
4 - Netherlands (SF)
5 - Italy (QF)
6 - Argentina (QF)
7 - Germany (QF)
11 - Romania (16)
17 - Spain (Group Stage)

USA 1994 - (24)
1 - Brazil (Winners)
2 - Italy (Runners-Up)
5 - Germany (QF)
10 - Argentina (16)
11 - Belgium (16)
14 - USA* (16)

Italy 1990 - (24)
1 - Germany (Winners)
2 - Argentina (Runners-Up)
3 - Italy* (SF)
4 - England (SF)
9 - Brazil (16)
11 - Belgium (16)

Mexico 1986 - (24)
2 - Germany (Runners-Up)
3 - France (SF)
5 - Brazil (QF)
6 - Mexico* (QF)
12 - Italy (16)
14 - Poland (16)

Spain 1982 - (24)
1 - Italy (Winners)
2 - Germany (Runners-Up)
5 - Brazil (QF)
6 - England (QF)
11 - Argentina (R2)
12 - Spain* (R2)

Argentina 1978 - (16)
1 - Argentina* (Winners)
2 - Netherlands (Runners-Up)
3 - Brazil (SF)
4 - Italy (SF)
6 - Germany (QF)

Germany 1974 - (16)
1 - Germany* (Winners)
4 - Brazil (SF)
10 - Italy (Group Stage)
13 - Uruguay (Group Stage)

Mexico 1970 - (16)
No official seeds for this WC

England 1966 - (16)
1 - England* (Winners)
2 - Germany (Runners-Up)
9 - Italy (Group Stage)
11 - Brazil (Group Stage)

Chile 1962 - (16)
1 - Brazil (Winners)
3 - Chile* (SF)
10 - Argentina (Group Stage)
12 - Uruguay (Group Stage)

Sweden 1958 - (16)
No official seeds for this WC

Switzerland 1954 - (16)
2 - Hungary (Runners-Up)
3 - Austria (SF)
4 - Uruguay (SF)
5 - Brazil (QF)
6 - England (QF)
9 - Turkey (Group Stage)
10 - Italy (Group Stage)
11 - France (Group Stage)

Brazil 1950 - (13)
1 - Uruguay (Winners)
2 - Brazil* (Runners-Up)
7 - Italy (Group Stage)
8 - England (Group Stage)

France 1938 - (15)
1 - Italy (Winners)
2 - Hungary (Runners-Up)
3 - Brazil (SF)
4 - Sweden (SF)
5 - Czechoslovakia (QF)
6 - France* (QF)
8 - Cuba (QF)
10 - Germany (R1)

Italy 1934 - (16)
1 - Italy* (Winners)
2 - Czechoslovakia (Runners-Up)
3 - Germany (SF)
4 - Austria (SF)
6 - Hungary (QF)
9 - Argentina (Preliminary Round)
9 - Netherlands (Preliminary Round)
14 - Brazil (Preliminary Round)

Uruguay 1930 - (13)
1 - Uruguay* (Winners)
2 - Argentina (Runners-Up)
3 - USA (SF)
6 - Brazil (QF)
9 - Paraguay (Group Stage)


* Host Nation


Monday, September 16, 2013

FIFA Best/Worst Ranking - September 2013

Nations currently at their best or worst all-time ranking position in the September 2013 FIFA Rankings.


Best Ranking
1 - Spain
6 - Belgium
35 - Panama
132 - Afghanistan
175 - Guam

Worst Ranking
59 - Republic of Ireland
106 - Canada
140 - Sudan
205 - South Sudan

Friday, September 13, 2013

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - September 2013

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average FIFA ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- August)

4.6 - Europe (-0.4)
1 - Spain
3 - Germany
4 - Italy
6 - Belgium
9 - Netherlands

7.6 - South America (+1.4)
2 - Argentina
5 - Colombia
7 - Uruguay
8 - Brazil
16 - Chile

28.4 - CONCACAF (+4.4)
13 - USA
21 - Mexico
33 - Costa Rica
35 - Panama
40 - Honduras

29.0 - Africa (-0.4)
19 - Côte d'Ivoire
24 - Ghana
28 - Algeria
36 - Nigeria
38 - Mali

51.6 - Asia (-1.6)
42 - Japan
48 - Iran
53 - Australia
57 - Uzbekistan
58 - South Korea

130.8 - Oceania (-4.0)
67 - New Zealand
95 - New Caledonia
146 - Tahiti
169 - Solomon Islands
177 - Samoa

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Non-European Premier League Medal Winners

Non-European Players who have received an English Premier League winner's medal.

Criteria From the 2012-2013 FA Premier League Handbook:
The League Champions shall further receive 30 commemorative medals to be presented by the Club to its Manager and to such of its Players and Officials as it thinks fit provided, in the case of a Player, that he has that Season played in a minimum of 10 of its League Matches. Additional medals may be presented with the consent of the Board..

Africa

Cameroon
2 - Lauren, 01-02, 03-04 (Arsenal)
2 - Geremi, 04-05, 05-06 (Chelsea)

Ghana
1 - Michael Essien, 05-06 (Chelsea)

Ivory Coast
3 - Didier Drogba, 04-05, 05-06, 09-10 (Chelsea)
2 - Kolo Toure, 03-04, 11-12 (Arsenal, Manchester City)
1 - Salomon Kalou, 09-10, (Chelsea)
1 - Yaya Toure, 11-12 (Manchester City)

Liberia
1 - Christopher Wreh, 97-98 (Arsenal)

Nigeria
2 - Nwankwo Kanu, 01-02, 03-04 (Arsenal)
1 - John Obi Mikel, 09-10 (Chelsea)

South Africa
1 - Quinton Fortune, 02-03 (Manchester United)



Asia

Australia
1 - Robbie Slater, 94-95 (Blackburn Rovers)
1 - Mark Bosnich, 99-00 (Manchester United)

Japan
1 - Shinji Kagawa, 12-13 (Manchester United)

South Korea
4 - Park Ji-Sung, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 10-11 (Manchester United)



CONCACAF

Mexico
2 - Javier Hernandez, 10-11, 12-13 (Manchester United)

Trinidad and Tobago
3 - Dwight Yorke, 98-99, 99-00, 00-01 (Manchester United)



CONMEBOL

Argentina
3 - Carlos Tevez, 07-08, 08-09, 11-12 (Manchester United, Manchester City)
1 - Hernan Crespo, 05-06 (Chelsea)
1 - Juan Sebastian Veron, 02-03 (Manchester United)
1 - Gabriel Heinze, 06-07 (Manchester United)
1 - Pablo Zabaleta, 11-12 (Manchester City)
1 - Sergio Agüero, 11-12 (Manchester City)

Brazil
4 - Anderson, 07-08, 08-09, 10-11, 12-13 (Manchester United)
3 - Rafael, 08-09, 10-11, 12-13 (Manchester United)
2 - Edu, 01-02, 03-04 (Arsenal)
1 - Gilberto Silva, 03-04 (Arsenal)
1 - Juliano Belletti, 09-10 (Chelsea)
1 - Alex, 09-10 (Chelsea)
1 - Fabio, 10-11 (Manchester United)

Ecuador
2 - Antonio Valencia, 10-11, 12-13 (Manchester United)

Uruguay
1 - Diego Forlan, 02-03 (Manchester United)



Original Post 12/31/08
Updated 09/12/13

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

World Cup Qualifier Upsets - September 2013

Upsets from the last round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (September, 2013).

FIFA Rank difference -- Score -- Home Team (Rank) v Away Team (Rank)

Upset Wins (25+ FIFA rank difference) 
49 -- 0:1 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina (13) v Slovakia (62)
43 -- 2:1 -- Macedonia (89) v Wales (46)
40 -- 1:2 -- Czech Republic (26) v Armenia (66)
35 -- 2:0 -- Gambia (163) v Tanzania (128)
32 -- 2:1 -- Iceland (70) v Albania (38)
31 -- 3:2 -- Luxembourg (140) v Northern Ireland (109)
25 -- 2:3 -- Sudan (135) v Lesotho (160)

Upset Draw (40+ FIFA rank Difference)
80 -- 2:2 -- Estonia (85) v Netherlands (5)
74 -- 0:0 -- Georgia (97) v France (23)
57 -- 1:1 -- Cote d'Ivoire (18) v Morocco (75)
55 -- 4:4 -- Switzerland (15) v Iceland (70)
52 -- 1:1 -- Israel (63) v Azerbaijan (115)
47 -- 1:1 -- Bolivia (64) v Ecuador (17)
44 -- 1:1 -- Poland (72) v Montenegro (28)



In case CONCACAF fans are wondering, Honduras (43) over Mexico (20) and Costa Rica (42) over USA (19) didn't make the list as both matchups had a FIFA rank difference of 23, just short of the 25+ cutoff.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Premier League Number Nines

Players from current EPL clubs that have worn squad number "9" in the Premier League since 1993.

Arsenal
Alan Smith, Paul Merson, Nicolas Anelka, Davor Suker, Francis Jeffers, José Antonio Reyes, Júlio Baptista , Eduardo, Park Chu-Young, Lukas Podolski

Aston Villa
Dean Saunders, Savo Milošević, Stan Collymore, Dion Dublin, Juan Pablo Angel, Marlon Harewood, Stephen Ireland, Darren Bent, Nicklas Helenius

Cardiff City
Andreas Cornelius

Chelsea
Tony Cascarino, Mark Stein, Gianluca Vialli, Chris Sutton, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mateja Kezman, Hernán Crespo, Khalid Boulahrouz, Steve Sidwell, Franco Di Santo, Fernando Torres

Crystal Palace
Chris Armstrong, Neil Shipperley, Dougie Freedman, Kevin Phillips

Everton
Tony Cottee, Duncan Ferguson, Kevin Campbell, James Beattie, Louis Saha, Landon Donovan, Arouna Koné

Fulham
Steve Marlet, Facundo Sava, Andy Cole, Michael Brown, Heidar Helguson, David Healy, Bobby Zamora, Stefano Okaka, Orlando Sá, Dimitar Berbatov

Hull City
Jozy Altidore, Danny Graham

Liverpool
Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf, Djibril Cissé, Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll, Iago Aspas

Manchester City
Niall Quinn, Paul Dickov, Paulo Wanchope, Andrew Cole, Emile Mpenza, Valeri Bojinov, Emmanuel Adebayor, Alvaro Negredo

Manchester United
Brian McClair, Andy Cole, Louis Saha, Dimitar Berbatov

Newcastle United
Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Obafemi Martins, Andy Carroll, Papiss Demba Cissé

Norwich City
Gary Megson, Mattias Jonson, Grant Holt, Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Southampton
Iain Dowie, Neil Shipperley, Mark Hughes, Mark Draper, James Beattie, Jay Rodriguez

Stoke City
Richard Cresswell, James Beattie, Kenwyne Jones

Sunderland
Craig Russell, Niall Quinn, Tore Andre Flo, Jonathan Stead, Anthony Stokes, Djibril Cissé, Fraizer Campbell, Danny Graham, Steven Fletcher

Swansea City
Craig Beattie, Michu

Tottenham Hotspur
Darren Anderton, Les Ferdinand, Frederic Kanoute, Grzegorz Rasiak, Dimitar Berbatov, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Roberto Soldado

West Bromwich Albion
Danny Dichio, Geoff Horsfield, Roman Bednář, Shane Long

West Ham United
Trevor Morley, Tony Cottee, Paul Kitson, Davor Suker, Jermain Defoe, Dean Ashton, Ilan, Carlton Cole, Andy Carroll

Monday, September 9, 2013

"Rovers" Club Logos

Albion Rovers FC - Scotland

Bantu Rovers - Zimbabwe

Barton Rovers - England

Blackburn Rovers - England

Bristol Rovers - England

Bromsgrove Rovers - England

Doncaster Rovers - England

Forest Green Rovers - England

Great Wakering Rovers - England

Letterkenny Rovers - Ireland Republic


Peebles Rovers - Scotland

Raith Rovers - Scotland

River City Rovers - United States

Rochedale Rovers - Australia

Shamrock Rovers - Ireland Republic

Sligo Rovers - Ireland Republic

Mhlambanyatsi Rovers - Swaziland

Tampines Rovers - Singapore

Taringa Rovers - Australia

Threave Rovers - Scotland

Tolka Rovers - Ireland Republic

Tranmere Rovers - England

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

EPL: Home Grown Players by Club

Barclays Premier League Squad Lists 2013/2014

"A Home Grown Player will be defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21)."

Arsenal (5) - Bendtner, Gibbs, Ramsey, Szczesney, Walcott

Aston Villa (14) - Agbonlahor, Albrighton, Baker, N'Zogbia, Bennett, Bowery, Clark, Delph, Given, Herd, Lowton, Stieber, Weimann, Westwood

Cardiff City (16) - Bellamy, Brayford, Campbell, Caulker, Connolly, Hudson, Lewis, Mason, Maynard, Moore, Mutch, Noone, Smith, Taylor, Turner, Whittingham

Chelsea (5) - Terry, Cole, Lampard, Cahill, Bertrand

Crystal Palace (14) - Bannan, Gabbidon, Gayle, Hunt, Mariappa, McCarthy, Moxey, O'Keefe, Phillips, Price, Puncheon, Jerome, Thomas, Ward

Everton (7) - Gibson, Hibbert, Jagielka, Osman, Baines, Barry, McCarthy

Fulham (12) - Stockdale, Etheridge, Hughes, Senderos, Richardson, Briggs, Duff, Sidwell, Parker, Taarabt, Kacaniklic, Bent

Hull City (15) -  Rosenior, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Huddlestone, Graham, Livermore, McShane, Boyd, Dudgeon, Harper, Aluko, Quinn, McLean, Fryatt

Liverpool (8) - Allen, Gerrard, Henderson, Johnson, Jones, Kelly, Moses, Sturridge

Manchester City (8) - Boyata, Clichy, Hart, Lescott, Milner, Richards, Rodwell, Nimely, Wright

Manchester United (13) - Amos, Carrick, Cleverley, Evans, Ferdinand, Giggs, Smalling, Rooney, Welbeck, Young, Rafael, Fabio, Fletcher

Newcastle United (9) - Ameobi, Dummett, Elliot, Gosling, Krul, Tavernier, R Taylor, S Taylor, Williamson

Norwich City (13) - Ayala, Bennett, Bunn, Fox, Hooper, Howson, Johnson, Martin, Nash, Olsson, Pilkington, Ruddy, Turner

Southampton (13) - Clyne, Cork, K Davis, S Davis, Fox, Lallana, Lambert, Rodriguez, Schneiderlin, Barnard, Forte, Martin, Sharp

Stoke City (11) - Begovic, Crouch, Etherington, Huth, Ireland, Pennant, Shawcross, Walters, Whelan, Wilkinson, Wilson

Sunderland (12) - Bardsley, Borini, Brown, Cattermole, Colback, Gardner, Johnson, Larsson, Mannone, O'Shea, Vaughan, Westwood

Swansea City (9) - Britton, Dyer, Lita, Monk, Obeng, Richards, Routledge, Taylor, Williams

Tottenham Hotspur (10) - Dawson, Defoe, Lennon, Naughton, Obika, Rose, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Walker, Dawkins

West Bromwich Albion (13) - Brunt, Camp, Daniels, Dawson, Foster, Jones, Long, Morrison, Myhill, Reid, Ridgewell, Sinclair, Anichebe

West Ham United (15) - Carroll, Cole, Collins, Collison, Downing, Henderson, Jarvis, McCartney, Noble, Noland, O'Brien, Spence, Taylor, Tomkins, Vaz Te