Nate Silver's 2010 World Cup team rating system

[Temo]

I have no clue if anyone else here is interested, but I was so I'd thought I'd share:

Purpose of rating: http://espn.go.com/soccer/worldcup/news/_/id/4537460/purpose-spi

Actual ratings: http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/spi/

US is ranked #14 in the world, which I think is about where they belong. Chile at #8 and Ivory Coast at #11 are probably the two big surprises in terms of teams being listed high.

Italy at #12 may seem low at first, but I think most astute observers would agree.

 

[Ren]

England are far to high as usual, I have a lot of British friends and every world cup there nothing more entertaining then watching them crash and burn after the ******** expectations placed on them

 

[CATCH17]

I havent kept up with much Soccer this year.

How is Ronaldhino and AC Milan playing?

Have Madrid and Barcelona played yet? Who won?

Also is Chelsea hands down the best team in their league?

World cup I will be rooting for usa and brazil.

 

[joseephuss]

England are far to high as usual, I have a lot of British friends and every world cup there nothing more entertaining then watching them crash and burn after the ******** expectations placed on them

England are probably ranked a little high, but this will be their best team in some time.

Arentina had been struggling during world cup qualifying, so they may be a little over rated. Still they have one of the top players in the game.

Portugal has not yet qualified for WC 2010 and now have to play without their best player Ronaldo for their playoff games against Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 14th and 18th of this month.

 

[joseephuss]

I havent kept up with much Soccer this year.

How is Ronaldhino and AC Milan playing?

Have Madrid and Barcelona played yet? Who won?

Also is Chelsea hands down the best team in their league?

World cup I will be rooting for usa and brazil.

AC Milan is doing well. Still a little inconsistent on defense and I think that will keep them from being the top team. Inter Milan remains the best team and is atop of the standings in Serie A.

Barcelona is 1st and Real Madrid is second in La Liga. They will face off on the 29th of this month. I am not sure if Ronaldo will be back for that game.

I don't know about hands down, but Chelsea is doing well right now.

 

[UKCowboysFan]

England are far to high as usual, I have a lot of British friends and every world cup there nothing more entertaining then watching them crash and burn after the ******** expectations placed on them

The thing is that rankings are based largely on your recent results, which for England have been pretty good, and who you play against.

That said #3 is too high for England, I would rank them in the lower reaches of the top #10.

The expectations for England at every championship is way too high, the media here build them up & the general public then expects us to win the tournament.

For me, I expect England to make the Qtr-Finals, anything after that is a Bonus.

As for the World Cup, I have a feeling that this just may be the first time that anyone other than Brazil win the World Cup outside their own continent.

 

[Temo]

I agree that often England are given too much credit, but I also think that this year they really are quite good.