FIFA WORLD CUP RANKINGS 2022

Football Today – 19th November 1921

Did you know a child at school who was a sporting 'all-rounder'? You might have been one?

Benjamin Howard-Baker, his baptism record at St Margaret, Anfield on 28 March 1892, shows his Christian names as 'Benjamin Howard' and his surname as 'Baker'. His father had the same name.  He is included in 'Play Up Corinth - A history of the Corinthian Football Club'.

In team sports, Baker was a goalkeeper for England, Chelsea, Everton and Oldham Athletic football clubs, having previously played for the renowned amateur team, The Corinthians. 

He played for "The Amateurs" in the 1925 FA Charity Shield match v "The Professionals". He was also an international water polo goalkeeper. Baker initially played as a defender, and took the keeper position after his ankle was damaged in a naval mine sweeping operation, during World War I.

He was a championship-winning tennis player and did a lot more than play for his school house at cricket!  In singles, doubles and mixed doubles, Baker competed in the 1929 Northern Qualifying Tournament for Wimbledon without making the main draw in any event and won the 1932 Welsh Covered Courts tennis competition.

Individually, Baker held British records in the high jump (1.95 m, from 1921 to 1946) and triple jump. He competed in these events at the 1912 and 1920 Olympics and finished in 6–11th places. At the Northern Counties Championships he won the high jump (1911–14, 1919–21), 120 yd hurdles (1921) and discus throw (1920); he also won the long jump at the 1920 Northern Olympic Trials. 

A First World War injury saw him concentrate on football and the 1920s saw him make League appearances for Chelsea, Everton and Oldham. Most of those appearances were for Chelsea - 93 in League and FA Cup matches- and in one of those on 19th November 1921 he showed a bit more of his varied abilities. 

On that day he scored the only goal for Chelsea in the First Division match against Bradford City at Stamford Bridge - from the penalty spot. He lost his penalty-taking duties after a miss against Arsenal later in the season but, hey, what an all-rounder! After retiring from sports, Baker joined the family firm producing soap and chemicals and became a renowned businessman in the Liverpool area.

enior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1913–1914	Blackburn Rovers	0	(0)
1914–1915	Preston North End	0	(0)
1919–1920	Liverpool	0	(0)
1919–1933	Corinthian	210	(0)
1921	Everton	2	(0)
1921–1926	Chelsea	92	(1)
1926	Everton	11	(0)
1928–1929	Oldham Athletic	1	(0)
Total		106	(1)
National team
1921–1925	England	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goal

and after England's starting FIFA World Cup match today (19thNov )....hooray.....the data below, may have changed after the win over Iran!!

FIFA rankings for all 32 World Cup teams: Brazil are the current World number one nation, heading into the 2022 World Cup. The South American giants have held top spot since March 31 this year, when they replaced Belgium, who themselves were top for nearly four years. Ghana, meanwhile, will come into Qatar 2022 as the lowest-ranked nation with the African side currently 61st. Italy (6th) are the highest ranked side not to have qualified.

FIFA rankings for the 32 World Cup qualifying teams: Brazil, the current world number one heading into the 2022 World Cup. Ghana, meanwhile, will come into Qatar 2022 as the lowest-ranked nation with the African side currently 61st. Italy (6th) are the highest ranked side not to have qualified, hence not on list. Not going to explain how these are calculated. 

The following higher ranks are also not at the tournament: Colombia rank 17 not there.  NOR Japan 23rd. 25th Serbia and 27th Ukraine, 29 Korea, 32 Egypt, 33 Czech, 34 Austria, 35 Tunisia, 36, Russia, 37th Cameron.

Rank	Nation	Points
1	Brazil	1841.3
2	Belgium	1816.71
3	Argentina	1773.88
4	France	1759.78
5	England	1728.47
7	Spain	1715.22
8	Netherlands	1694.51
9	Portugal	1676.56
10	Denmark	1666.57
11	Germany	1650.21
12	Croatia	1645.64
13	Mexico	1644.89
14	Uruguay	1638.71
15	Switzerland	1635.92
16	USA	1627.48
18	Senegal	1584.38
19	Wales	1569.82
20	Iran	1564.61
21	Serbia	1563.62
22	Morocco	1563.5
24	Japan	1559.54
26	Poland	1548.59
28	South Korea	1530.3
30	Tunisia	1507.54
31	Costa Rica	1503.59
38	Australia	1488.72
41	Canada	1475
43	Cameroon	1471.44
44	Ecuador	1464.39
50	Qatar	1439.89
51	Saudi Arabia	1437.78
61	Ghana	1393

and below the "history" of TOP FIFA rankings since 1993. England seemingly not included!

Team	First place	Second place	Third place
Brazil	12 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)	5 (2007, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2021)	5 (1993, 2001, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Spain	6 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)	1 (1994)	3 (2002, 2003, 2015)
Belgium	5 (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)	0	0
Germany	3 (1993, 2014, 2017)	6 (1995, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2012, 2013)	4 (1998, 2010, 2011, 2016)
Argentina	2 (2007, 2016)	3 (2001, 2014, 2015)	5 (2000, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2013)
France	1 (2001)	8 (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2019, 2020)	3 (1996, 1999, 2021)
Netherlands	0	2 (2010, 2011)	3 (2005, 2008, 2009)
Italy	0	2 (1993, 2006)	2 (1995, 2007)
Czech Republic	0	2 (1999, 2005)	1 (1997)
Sweden	0	0	1 (1994)
Colombia	0	0	1 (2014)
Portugal	0	0	1 (2017)