Ireland coach not sold on Socceroos

The Socceroos' successful qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa saw them surge 13 places higher into 16th on the world charts in a list released by FIFA on Wednesday.

Portugal, who boast a rich football history and possess arguably the world's best player Cristiano Ronaldo, are ranked one spot lower than the Socceroos.

European big guns Czech Republic and Turkey and South American giants Paraguay and Uruguay are also ranked below Australia.

McCarthy, who guided the Republic of Ireland through to the second round of the 2002 World Cup and is now in charge of promoted English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, voiced his doubts about the ratings system.

"Australia have got good players, they've come and graced the Premier League," McCarthy said on Wednesday.

"But I've been an international team manager and that system of points and where you're standing doesn't quite stack up, because the US might be playing all these teams like Trinidad and Tobago and places like that and Portugal might be playing all the top European sides.

"So I don't think it quite adds up in how they make the numbers work.

"I'm not demeaning Australia because they are very good. They've got good players who are generally athletic and well-organised.

"But I don't think the system for making the world rankings is as accurate as it could be.

"Mind you when we got to 13th with the Republic I thought it was a really good rankings system, especially from 54th."