EPL Players at London 2012 Olympics

EPL players that have been selected to represent their country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

England
Neil Taylor - Swansea City
Joe Allen - Swansea City
Scott Sinclair - Swansea City
Ryan Bertrand - Chelsea FC
Danny Rose - Tottenham Hotspur
Steven Caulker - Tottenham Hotspur
Craig Dawson - West Bromwich Albion
Tom Cleverly - Manchester United
Ryan Giggs - Manchester United
Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea FC
Craig Bellamy - Liverpool FC
James Tomkins - West Ham United
Jack Cork - Southampton FC
Micah Richards - Manchester City
Aaron Ramsey - Arsenal

Spain
David De Gea - Manchester United
Juan Mata - Chelsea FC
Oriol Romeu - Chelsea FC

Brazil
Rafael - Manchester United
Sandro - Tottenham Hotspur

New Zealand
Ryan Nelsen - Queens Park Rangers
Chris Wood - West Bromwich Albion

Senegal
Mohamed Diame - Wigan Ahtletic
Magaye Gueye - Everton FC

South Korea
Park Chu-Young - Arsenal
Ji Dong-Won - Sunderland

Switzerland
Benjamin Siegrist - Aston Villa
Pajtim Kasami - Fulham FC

Uruguay
Sebastian Coates - Liverpool FC
Luis Suarez - Liverpool FC

Honduras
Maynor Figueroa - Wigan Athletic

Mexico
Giovani Dos Santos - Tottenham Hotspur

FIFA Rankings by Similar Population: 20-100+ million

FIFA rankings of nations with similar populations. (July 2012 FIFA Rankings)

100+ million
11 - Brazil
13 - Russia
19 - Mexico
20 - Japan
36 - United States
58 - Nigeria
68 - China
151 - Bangladesh
153 - Indonesia
163 - India
178 - Pakistan

50-100 million
2 - Germany
4 - England
6 - Italy
14 - France
29 - Turkey
42 - Egypt
50 - Iran
114 - Congo DR
119 - Ethiopia
120 - Vietnam
135 - Thailand
152 - Philippines
180 - Myanmar

30-50 million
1 - Spain
7 - Argentina
22 - Colombia
28 - South Korea
35 - Algeria
46 - Ukraine
54 - Poland
68 - Canada
68 - South Africa
71 - Morocco
81 - Iraq
85 - Uganda
105 - Sudan
125 - Kenya

20-30 million
16 - Cote d'Ivoire
23 - Australia
32 - Peru
33 - Ghana
47 - Venezuela
52 - Romania
65 - Uzbekistan
89 - North Korea
101 - Saudi Arabia
107 - Mozambique
132 - Syria
148 - Yemen
155 - Nepal
157 - Malaysia
162 - Afghanistan
176 - Chinese Taipei
181 - Sri Lanka

African MLS All-Stars

African players that have been selected to the MLS All-Star Team since 1996.

1996

Doctor Khumalo (South Africa)

Digital Takawira (Zimbabwe)

1997

Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)

Digital Takawira (Zimbabwe)

1998

Uche Okafor (Nigeria)

1999

NONE

2000

Mamadou Diallo (Senegal)

2001

Mamadou Diallo (Senegal)

2002-2007

NONE

2008

Bakary Soumare (Mali) *Inactive Roster

2009

Bakary Soumare (Mali)

2010-2011

NONE

FIFA Rankings: Best/Worst Movers July 2008-2012

Comparing the FIFA rankings of nations from July 2008 and July 2012.  These nations have gained or lost 40+ spots in the past four years.

Best Movers
+125 - Central African Republic (198 to 73)
+95  - Montenegro (146 to 51)
+73  - Sierra Leone (138 to 65)
+64  - Estonia (120 to 56)
+58  - Algeria (93 to 35)
+57  - Haiti (119 to 62)
+57  - Niger (172 to 115)
+51  - Libya (90 to 39)
+50  - El Salvador (117 to 67)
+48  - Dominican Republic (178 to 130)
+48  - St. Kitts and Nevis (160 to 112)
+47  - Slovenia (81 to 34)
+45  - Austria (105 to 60)
+44  - Belize (175 to 131)
+44  - Bosnia-Herzegovina (74 to 30)
+44  - Nicaragua (185 to 141)
+42  - Luxembourg (152 to 110)
+42  - Tahiti (180 to 138)
+41  - Armenia (96 to 55)
+41  - Aruba (205 to 164)
+40  - Faroe Islands (195 to 155)

Worst Movers
-89  - Moldova (50 to 139)
-75  - Bulgaria (17 to 92)
-72  - Cuba (78 to 150)
-69  - Northern Ireland (33 to 102)
-61  - Israel (21 to 82)
-59  - Cyprus (63 to 122)
-59  - Mauritania (144 to 203)
-59  - Swaziland (123 to 182)
-52  - Kyrgyzstan (145 to 197)
-52  - Saudi Arabia (49 to 101)
-48  - FYR Macedonia (56 to 104)
-47  - Eritrea (142 to 189)
-46  - Cameroon (13 to 59)
-45  - Suriname (88 to 133)
-40  - Romania (12 to 52)
-40  - Turks and Caicos Islands (168 to 208)

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - July 2012

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

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


3.6 - Europe (+0.8)
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
4 - England
5 - Portugal
6 - Italy

11.6 - South America (-2.6)
3 - Uruguay
7 - Argentina
11 - Brazil
15 - Chile
22 - Colombia

32.6 - Africa (-1.0)
16 - Côte d'Ivoire
33 - Ghana
35 - Algeria
39 - Libya
40 - Mali

37.2 - Asia (+1.4)
20 - Japan
23 - Australia
28 - South Korea
50 - Iran
65 - Uzbekistan

44.4 - CONCACAF (-3.8)
19 - Mexico
36 - USA
48 - Panama
57 - Costa Rica
62 - Haiti

141.0 - Oceania (+7.6)
95 - New Zealand
138 - Tahiti
143 - New Caledonia
161 - Fiji
168 - Vanuatu

Non-Sovereign FIFA Members

Non-sovereign nations that are current FIFA members

American Samoa (USA)
Anguilla (UK)
Aruba (Netherlands)
Bermuda (UK)
British Virgin Islands (UK)
Cayman Islands (UK)
Chinese Taipei (China)
Curaçao (Netherlands)
England (UK)
Faroe Islands (Denmark)
Guam (USA)
Hong Kong (China)
Macau (China)
Montserrat (UK)
New Caledonia (France)
Northern Ireland (UK)
Palestine
Puerto Rico (USA)
Scotland (UK)
Tahiti (France)
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)
US Virgin Islands (USA)
Wales (UK)


NON-FIFA members that are associate members of continental Confederations

AFC: Northern Mariana Islands

CAF: Réunion

CONCACAF: French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten

OFC: Niue, Kiribati, Tuvalu


Sovereign Nations that are not members of FIFA or their continental Confederations

Federated States of Micronesia
Monaco
Nauru
Palau
United Kingdom
Vatican City


Sovereign Definition

1. Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state.

2. Royal rank, authority, or power.

3. Complete independence and self-government.

4. A territory existing as an independent state.

Top Euro 2012 Group Stage Players by League

The best players from the Euro 2012 group stages who play at clubs in the top leagues of England, Germany, Italy and Spain.  According to the Castrol Edge Index.

Spain (La Liga)
9.68 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal: Real Madrid)
9.37 - Andres Iniesta (Spain: Barcelona)
9.28 - Alvaro Arbeloa (Spain: Real Madrid)
9.04 - Pepe (Portugal: Real Madrid)
8.94 - Gerard Piqué (Spain: Barcelona)
8.82 - Fábio Coentrão (Portugal: Real Madrid)
8.67 - Xabi Alonso (Spain: Real Madrid)
8.54 - Jordi Alba (Spain: Valencia)
8.51 - Sergio Ramos (Spain: Real Madrid)
8.39 - Sergio Busquets (Spain: Barcelona)

Germany (Bundesliga)
9.19 - Vaclav Pilař (Czech Republic: Wolfsburg)
9.08 - Michael Kadlec (Czech Republic: Leverkusen)
8.91 - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany: Bayern Munich)
8.88 - Mario Mandžukić (Croatia: Wolfsburg)
8.79 - Petr Jiráček (Czech Republic: Wolfsburg)
8.76 - Holger Badstuber (Germany: Bayern Munich)
8.70 - Robert Lewandowski (Poland: Borussia Dortmund)
8.59 - Mario Gomez (Germany: Bayern Munich)
8.34 - Lukas Podolski (Germany: Köln)
8.24 - Mats Hummels (Germany: Borussia Dortmund)

England (Premier League)
9.60 - David Silva (Spain: Manchester City)
9.32 - Nicklas Bendtner (Denmark: Arsenal)
8.85 - John Terry (England: Chelsea)
8.64 - Danny Welbeck (England: Manchester United)
8.62 - Robin Van Persie (Netherlands: Arsenal)
8.56 - Steven Gerrard (England: Liverpool)
8.29 - Joleon Lescott (England: Manchester City)
8.27 - Ashley Cole (England: Chelsea)
8.20 - Sebastian Larsson (Sweden: Sunderland)
7.98 - Nani (Portugal: Manchester United)

Italy (Serie A)
9.42 - Claudio Marchisio (Italy: Juventus)
9.23 - Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden: AC Milan)
9.12 - Philippe Mexès (France: AC Milan)
8.87 - Antonio Cassano (Italy: AC Milan)
8.31 - Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands: Roma)
8.15 - Gianluigi Buffon (Italy: Juventus)
8.02 - Daniele De Rossi (Italy: Roma)
7.87 - Giorgio Chiellini (Italy: Juventus)
7.69 - Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands: Inter Milan)
7.63 - Leonardo Bonucci (Italy: Juventus)

USMNT Behind The Crest Video Series

A video series with a behind the scenes look at the US Men's National Team during their recent stretch of 3 friendlies (Scotland, Brazil, and Canada) and 2 World Cup Qualifiers (Antigua-Barbuda and Guatemala).

Episode 1


Episode 2


Episode 3


Episode 4


Episode 5


Episode 6

Best and Worst All-Time FIFA Ranking in 2012

Nations that have achieved their best or worst ever FIFA ranking in 2012. (As of the June 2012 FIFA Rankings)

Best All-Time FIFA Ranking
2 - Uruguay
19 - Bosnia-Herzegovina
41 - Armenia
42 - Libya
46 - Panama
47 - Estonia
49 - El Salvador
112 - Chad
115 - São Tomé e Príncipe
133 - Belize
148 - Philippines

Worst All-Time FIFA Ranking
206 - Turks and Caicos Islands
203 - Bhutan
200 - British Virgin Islands
199 - Macau
196 - Kyrgyzstan
186 - Sri Lanka
184 - Solomon Islands
178 - Barbados
177 - Myanmar
158 - Singapore
141 - Thailand
131 - Iceland
138 - United Arab Emirates
96 - Bulgaria
81 - Israel
75 - Poland
64 - Egypt

Former African MLS Players Overseas

Former MLS players from Africa that are still active with clubs overseas.

AFRICA
Dipsy Selolwane (CHI, RSL) - Supersport United (South Africa)
Danleigh Borman (NY, TOR) - SuperSport United (South Africa)

Aziz Ansah (DAL) - Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Seth Owusu (CHV) - Medeama SC (Ghana)

Mfana Futhi Bhembe (RSL) - Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland)
Tico-Tico (TB) - Desportivo de Maputo (Mozambique)

EUROPE

Matthew Mbuta (NY) - Syrianska FC (Sweden)
Ibrahim Koroma (DC) - Trelleborgs FF (Sweden)

Jean-Martial Kipre (RSL) - SC Toulon (France)
Bakary Soumare (CHI) - US Boulogne (France)

Mustapha Jarju (VAN) - RAEC Mons (Belgium)
Salou Ibrahim (NY) - Oud-Heverlee Leuven (Belgium)

Anthony Obodai (HOU) - Mağusa Türk Gücü S.K. (Northern Cyprus)
Monsef Zerka (NE) - Petrolul Ploieşti (Romania)
Kasali Yinka Casal (DC) - Vasas Budapest (Hungary)
Emmanuel Ekpo (CLB) - Molde (Norway)
Bouna Coundoul (COL, NY) - VPS (Finland)
Davide Somma (SJ) - Leeds United (England)
Eugene Sseppuya (COL) - Borac Čačak (Serbia)

ASIA
Alain N'Kong (COL) - Arema (Indonesia)
Francis Doe (NY, DC) - Terengganu FA (Malaysia)
Melvin Tarley (RSL, COL) - Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia)
Brian Umony (POR) - Becamex Binh Duong FC (Vietnam)

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - June 2012

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

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

4.4 - Europe (-0.6)
1 - Spain
3 - Germany
4 - Netherlnads
6 - England
8 - Croatia

9.0 - South America (+2.0)
2 - Uruguay
5 - Brazil
7 - Argentina
11 - Chile
20 - Colombia

31.6 - Africa (-0.8)
16 - Cote d'Ivoire
25 - Ghana
32 - Algeria
42 - Libya
43 - Mali

38.6 - Asia (+1.2)
23 - Japan
24 - Australia
35 - South Korea
45 - Iran
66 - Uzbekistan

40.6 - CONCACAF (+0.6)
19 - Mexico
28 - USA
46 - Panama
55 - El Salvador
55 - Honduras

148.6 - Oceania (+5.6)
100 - New Zealand
155 - New Caledonia
156 - Samoa
161 - Fiji
171 - Vanuatu

FIFA Rankings: Euro 2012 Nations

The current (June 2012) FIFA Rankings of the Euro 2012 nations

GROUP A (29.25 avg)
13 - Russia
15 - Greece
27 - Czech Republic
62 - Poland

GROUP B (6.50 avg)
3 - Germany
4 - Netherlands
9 - Denmark
10 - Portugal

GROUP C (9.75 avg)
1 - Spain
8 - Croatia
12 - Italy
18 - Republic of Ireland

GROUP D (22.25 avg)
6 - England
14 - France
17 - Sweden
52 - Ukraine


UEFA Ranking
1 - Spain
2 - Germany
3 - Netherlands
4 - England

5 - Croatia
6 - Denmark
7 - Portugal
8 - Italy

9 - Russia
10 - France
11 - Greece
12 - Sweden

13 - Republic of Ireland
16 - Czech Republic
28 - Ukraine
32 - Poland

Euro 2012: England Player Birthplace Map

The birthplaces of the 23 England players at Euro 2012.


View England Euro 2012 Player Birthplace Map in a larger map

Euro 2012 Players Born Abroad

Players that were born outside of the country they are representing at Euro 2012.

Croatia
Vedran Ćorluka - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Eduardo - Brazil
Ivo Iličević - Germany
Nikica Jelavić - Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ivan Rakitić - Switzerland
Josip Šimunić - Australia

Denmark
Jores Okore - Côte d'Ivoire

France
Patrice Evra - Senegal
Steve Mandanda - DR Congo

Germany
Miroslav Klose - Poland
Lukas Podolski - Poland

Greece
José Holebas - Germany
Sotiris Ninis - Albania
Avraam Papadopulos - Australia

Italy
Thiago Motta - Brazil

Netherlands
Luuk de Jong - Switzerland

Poland
Ludovic Obraniak - France
Damien Perquis - France

Portugal
Nani - Cape Verde
Pepe - Brazil
Rolando - Cape Verde

Republic of Ireland
Simon Cox - England
Paul Green - England
James McClean - Northern Ireland
Aiden McGeady - Scotland
Sean St Ledger - England
Jonathan Walters - England
Keiren Westwood - England

Sweden
Emir Bajrami - Kosovo
Behrang Safari - Iran

Ukraine
Oleksandr Aliyev - Russia
Marko Dević - Serbia
Artem Milevskiy - Belarus
Andriy Yarmolenko - Russia


Players Born Outside of Europe

5 - Africa: Patrice Evra (Senegal), Steve Mandanda (DR Congo), Nani (Cape Verde), Jores Okore (Côte d'Ivoire), Roland (Cape Verde)

3 - Asia: Avraam Papadopulos (Australia), Behrang Safari (Iran), Josip Šimunić (Australia)

3 - South America:  Eduardo (Brazil), Thiago Motta (Brazil), Pepe (Brazil),

Euro 2012 Players in Home Leagues

The number of Euro 2012 players from each nation's 23-man squad that play in their home league.

23 - England (100%)

21 - Russia (91%)

21 - Ukraine (91%)

20 - Italy (87%)

19 - Spain (83%)

19 - Germany (83%)

16 - Greece (70%)

12 - France (52%)

10 - Portugal (44%)

8 - Czech Republic (35%)
7 - Denmark (30%)

7 - Netherlands (30%)

6 - Poland (26%)

4 - Croatia (17%)

3 - Sweden (13%)

0 - Republic of Ireland (0%)