The Italian team was ranked in the 14th place in the latest FIFA world rankings. Italy stays fourteenth in FIFA's January ranking, whilst Spain remains ranked as the number one national team. The Italian squad, now coached by Cesare Prandelli, has 965 points on the FIFA list; world champion Spain leads with 1887, followed closely by runner-up Holland with 1723 points.

Germany is in third place (1485 points) narrowly beating Brazil (1446). Argentina, England, Uruguay and Portugal take fifth to eighth place respectively, whilst Croatia rises to ninth place (1075 points) thereby replacing Egypt, last on the top ten list with 1036 points.

Michael Ballack was said to be ribbing Javier Mascherano by text about the moves.