Turkey record mere rise in FIFA ranks

ISTANBUL

Turkey claimed a 3-0 win over Andorra but its chances of making it to the next year’s FIFA World Cup dimmed with a 1-1 draw against Hungary in March. AA photo

Turkey rose one spot to 44th in the FIFA’s latest world football rankings published yesterday. 

The national football team bounced back after falling to its lowest ranking in a decade after its modest performances last month. Turkey claimed a 3-0 win over Andorra but its chances of making it to the next year’s FIFA World Cup dimmed with a 1-1 draw against Hungary in March. 

Elsewhere, Brazil has slumped to its lowest ever position in world football. The 2014 World Cup host, automatic qualifier for the tournament, dropped one place to 19th in the list, which also had Croatia jump five places and break into the top five.

The top three were unchanged with world champions Spain at number one followed by Germany and Brazil’s arch South American foe, Argentina.

Croatia, who owe its sharp climb to fourth largely to its recent 2-0 derby win over Serbia, sits above Portugal (+2), Colombia, England, Italy (-3), Holland (-1) and Ecuador (+1), who complete the top 10. 
Brazil, who is on a diet of friendlies ahead of hosting next year’s World Cup, registered a brace of draws in March, 1-1 against Russia and 2-2 with Italy, before seeing off Bolivia 4-0.

The South Americans, five-time winners of football’s biggest prize, have dropped in the rankings because FIFA’s list awards more points for qualifying matches than friendlies.
England dropped three places to seventh after its 1-1 draw in Montenegro, which came after an 8-0 win against San Marino.

Wales leapt an astonishing 22 places from 71st to 49th, with its 2-1 win in Scotland followed by a 2-1 defeat in Croatia. Ivory Coast is the top African team at 12th.