Brazil top year-ending FIFA rankings for Team of the Year award
Zurich (dpa) - Brazil won the Team of the Year award the fifth straight year as it pipped World Cup winners Italy for first place in the final 2006 football rankings published by the ruling body FIFA on Monday.
Brazil finished the year with 1,588 points despite a quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Germany. The 1-0 loss to later finalists France was the only 2006 defeat for the Selecao, which won 10 other games and drew once.
Italy finished second with 1,560 points and won the Mover of the Year award, up from 12th in 2005. Argentina came third with 1,551 points.
"Brazils four victories in Germany and highly consistent performances in friendly matches, irrespective of their opponents and the venue, were still more than the most promising chasing teams had to offer," FIFA said.
The top-10 in the rankings, which take into account national team games over a 12-month period, also includes France (1,523), England (1,359), Germany (1,350), the Netherlands (1,305), Portugal (1,258), Nigeria (1,244) and the Czech Republic (1,190). // © 2006 DPA
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