Turkey in worst FIFA position since 1999

ISTANBUL

Turkish midfielder Selçuk İnan tries to dribble past an opponent during a friendly game against Slovenia.

Turkish national football team lost 10 spots to be placed 54th in the latest FIFA rankings announced yesterday.

The national team, which has virtually lost all hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup, is 54th with 573 points, which is the country’s worst ranking since 1999.

World Cup host Brazil slumped to a new record low in the rankings as the five-time world champion dropped three places to 22nd.

Having spent most of the first 15 years of official FIFA world rankings at the top of the pile, Brazil’s extraordinary demise began a year ago when the Selecao dropped six places from fifth to 11th in July 2012.

Luis Felipe Scolari’s team has been in freefall ever since and have now reached their worst ever position.

Brazil have not played a competitive match since losing on penalties to Paraguay in the Cop America quarterfinals in Argentina two years ago.

Since then the Seleçao have played only a series of friendlies, the latest a 2-2 draw with England in the newly refurbished Maracana stadium.

The top four remained unchanged with World and European champion Spain ahead of Germany, Argentina and Croatia.

The Netherlands jumped four places into fifth with England dropping two places to ninth. France remain down in 18th.