World Cup: Group G no longer the Group of Death according to FIFA Rankings

For the first time since we learned what the groups were, Group G does not hold the title of the “Group of Death.” That honor – dishonor? – now belongs to Group D.

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Uruguay (7), Italy (9), England (10), and Costa Rica (28) have an average ranking of 13.5, a half-point lower than Group G’s average ranking of 14. This is due in large part to Costa Rica’s jump all the way from 34 to 28 despite losing their only game over the last month, 3-1 to Japan.

That's not to say Group G will be any less difficult. The US moved up one spot from 14 to 13 while the other group members moved up one spot (Ghana, 38 to 37), stayed the same (Germany, 2) and moved down one (Portugal, 3 to 4).

Other notable movements came from Mexico, who moved down from 19 to 20, and Colombia, who now find themselves sitting at No. 8 as opposed to No. 5.