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Global upheaval (cont.)

Posted: Thursday December 14, 2006 8:34AM; Updated: Thursday December 14, 2006 9:30AM
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Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through very early a.m., Dec. 14.

World Soccer Power Rankings
Rank Prev. Team
1 1
Olympique Lyon
Lyon is brushing off major acquisition talks again, but I must have missed the memo that Les Gones actually need Franck Ribéry and Milan Baros (president Jean-Michel Aulas said on record that the club won't chase them). From where I'm sitting, the excellent Florent Malouda, Sidney Govou and Kim Källström are doing just fine manning the wings. And considering that Gérard Houllier employs an attack that originates mainly from the midfield anyways, a brittle striker like Baros seems highly unnecessary.
2 2
Chelsea
You'd think the sky was falling with the way the Manchester United camp is talking. Chelsea is only five points back and is still figuring out ways to integrate its insane talent into different offensive formations. You keep reading here at SI.com about how Andriy Shevchenko may not be scoring, but his mere presence on the field is helping the entire team. I hate to repeat what my colleagues Gabriele Marcotti and Greg Lalas have been saying, but there's a reason Didier Drogba is on pace to score 20 goals in the Premiership this season. The Ivorian's goal on Wednesday against Newcastle was set up exquisitely by the supposedly struggling Ukrainian.
3 6
Inter Milan
The Nerazzurri have quickly jelled into one of the more offensively entertaining teams in Europe. And yes, from what I'm told, they're still an Italian club. Interesting note: I'm hearing from a lot of my MLS sources that many clubs have Hernán Crespo high on their wish lists to fill their designated-player slots. Am I missing something? Unless Crespo is tired of European competition, I can't imagine it's any more than just that: a wish. At 31, he's no spring chicken, but the three-time Argentine World Cup veteran is still one of the best poachers in the game. He's currently tied for third in Serie A with seven goals.
4 5
FC Barcelona
As I write this, it's a few hours until the somewhat-anticipated 5 a.m. ET Dec. 14 kickoff of Barça vs. América at the Club World Cup. The way I see it, I've got two options here: Do an encore of my '02 World Cup-watching experience from London (have drunken English friend wake me up in the wee hours with beer in hand as Nigeria and Argentina square off), or go to bed and give my analysis in the morning. UPDATE, 4 a.m. PT: Here's my analysis. Barça wins, 4-0. Barça still good.
5 4
Manchester United
Much like the second coming of the Internet bubble, I suspect Man Utd's five-point lead atop the Premiership standings is, to a degree, smoke and mirrors. When they win, the score line always looks like the Red Devils ran their opponent off the pitch. But you get the sense they lack the killer instinct, that they only respond when pushed. When they strike first in a match, they tend to sit back (see last Sunday at Middlesbrough); when they're scored on first, only then does it seem as if they deem it necessary to show up (see their 3-1 win vs. Benfica, allowing them to advance at the last minute in Champions League).
6 3
São Paulo
FIFA is probably kicking itself that the Brazilian champs aren't making an encore appearance in Japan. Unlike Internacional, the club that topped São Paulo in the Copa Libertadores final to reach the Club World Cup, the Tricolor Paulista still has a fairly star-heavy roster that a few people outside of Brazil have actually heard of -- and let's not forget, they shocked Liverpool last year to win the tournament. That makes the event an even tougher sell. Meanwhile, players Japanese fans actually know -- Rogério Ceni, Mineiro, Fabão (who, coincidentally, moves to Kashima Antlers next month) -- are already enjoying their time off.
7 --
FC Porto
Before we hail the return of Os Dragões to the Rankings, I have to take a second to give props to loyal reader Joe Senos of Boston, who campaigns like a champ nearly every other week to get his team back here. Finally worked, Joe. Porto is sitting pretty at the summit of the Portuguese SuperLiga with a five-point lead and hasn't stared down a loss since early October. But the Dragons are also showing resolve, too -- they rebounded from dropping their first two group-stage matches in Champions League play and still advanced to the knockout rounds.
8 --
Sevilla
Yes, the club that leapfrogged Real Madrid in the Spanish standings has also knocked the Galácticos off the Rankings this week. And it's fitting, because Sevilla very well may be the second-best team in La Liga. The defending UEFA Cup champs also are walking all over their competition in their bid to repeat their title -- they've allowed only one goal through four matches and look like they belong in a slightly more prestigious tournament. How's this for an idea, Euro suits? How about giving the UEFA Cup winners an automatic berth in the Champions League?
9 --
Pachuca
We here at SI.com have been reluctant to jump on the bandwagon (just ask our own Luis Bueno), but it's time to call Pachuca's number. Los Tuzos may be Mexico's oldest club, but they're not glitzy or glamorous. Still, they're the Clausura '06 champions, and they followed that up with a run to the Apertura semis. Now, finally, they're the first Mexican club to hoist a South American trophy. What makes it all the more impressive is that they came back -- in Santiago, Chile, no less -- to beat a highly underrated Colo-Colo side that smashed its way through the Copa Sudamericana, outscoring three quality opponents 21-4 until running into Pachuca.
10 --
Estudiantes de La Plata
I'm not sure if we're putting Estudiantes here to reward their late-season charge or to punish Boca Juniors for their unbelievable collapse. But one thing's for sure: The dramatic end to the Argentine Apertura '06 season was stunning, and Estudiantes deserve all the credit. After looking up at first place for the entire season, they won their final 11 of 12 while Boca dropped three in a row, including the decisive playoff on Wednesday. Congratulations to coach Diego Simeone, who infused his never-say-die spirit into this team, and also to native son Juan Sebástian Verón, who for once guided his team with a steady hand and maturity.
Honorable mentions: Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Werder Bremen, SC Internacional, Celtic, VfB Stuttgart, Colo-Colo
Dropped off: Boca Juniors, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Celtic
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