Will be cheering for Brasil

[E.T.]

U.S. is No. 7 in FIFA rankings

January 18, 2006

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- The U.S. national soccer team advanced one place to No. 7 Wednesday in FIFA's rankings for January.

Brazil maintained the top spot it has held since July 2002, a month after it won its record fifth World Cup. The next three teams also were unchanged -- Czech Republic, Netherlands and Argentina. France shared fifth with Spain.

Mexico, which was tied for fifth last month, dropped into a tie for seventh with the U.S. England remained ninth, ahead of Portugal.

The next 10 places were almost the same: Turkey was No. 11, followed by Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Greece, Germany, Uruguay, Iran and Croatia. Only Germany changed places, dropping to 17th from a tie for 16th.

Among teams in the top 20, only Turkey, Denmark, European champion Greece and Uruguay failed to qualify for the 32-nation World Cup, which begins in June 9 in Germany.

[Triple B]

Bandwagoner.

[E.T.]

;D

I actually cheered them in 2002, my first year in Brasil.

Soccer/Futbol isn't an American sport, so I had to go with my "Mother-in-Law Land"  8)

[Triple B]

;D

I actually cheered them in 2002, my first year in Brasil.

Soccer/Futbol isn't an American sport, so I had to go with my "Mother-in-Law Land"  8)

Wimp.....................

[E.T.]

But I'm a relaxed wimp  8)