test test Clubs & Rightsholders

BELGIUM STAY TOP OF WORLD RANKINGS

The concept of international football has been one that has functioned for as long as the game has been existence and in the past few months, the global coronavirus pandemic has bought its own existence into question. With all manner of new protocol required to play scheduled fixtures plus a rejigging of the calendar also required, thankfully the show has still managed to go ahead and with 120 encounters taking place in the month of October, it has meant change in the latest FIFA rankings.

However, that change is not witnessed at the very top, as Roberto Martinez’s Belgium continue to lay claim to being the world’s best and after getting the better of England recently, the nation that finished third at the 2018 World Cup, stays top of the international tree.

While although they may be top with 1765 points, their lead has been eroded to just 13 points and with France a non-mover in second, these local neighbours will both be part of the genuine favourites to win next summer’s UEFA European Championships.

With football being such a global game, it is not all about European dominance and this is reflected by Brazil solidifying their third place standing, as after two wins from two in the South American World Cup qualifiers, their path to Qatar 2022 has now become slightly shorter.

A look at the top five sees nothing in the way of actual movement between chart positions, as both Portugal and England remain in fourth and fifth place respectively, as the preparation dates before next summer’s Euro’s begin to diminish further.

With just two more international windows left (November 2020 and March 2021), there is very little time for the likes of Gareth Southgate and his international counterparts to try new players or systems and this is why the recent Nations League fixtures have been somewhat half paced.

Not quite a friendly, but still considered by some as not a worthy international tournament, the Nations League is now the ideal fertile ground to hand out new caps to those talents hoping to breakthrough.

While when it comes to breaking through, Spain are the first nation to move up the ladder, as they now find themselves lying sixth at the end of the October rankings and they switch places with Uruguay.

There’s another switching of the seats in terms of eighth and ninth, as Argentina and Croatia say hello to each other while on the move and rounding out the top 10 ranked nations, are the always entertaining Colombia.

The big winners this month are Malta, as they move up six berths to their new ranking of 180 and notable mentions must go to Algeria, Paraguay, Hungary and Israel, who all gained five places since September’s rankings were announced.

While the big loser in October was Romania, as they fell 10 places to a new ranking of 44 and it was also a month to forget in Europe for Andorra, Bulgaria and Latvia, as they all fell heavily down the table since last month.

Within Concacaf, it is Mexico who rule the roost as they find themselves just one place outside the top ten and they are clear of their nearest rivals the United States, who are a further eleven places behind in 22nd.

As far as Africa goes, Senegal are top of the standings and are currently just one place outside the top twenty and this is six places higher than the dominant force within the Asian confederation, as Japan lead proceedings there in 27th.

Of course, one should not forget the OFC and with New Zealand unchanged from their ranking in September, it means the oceanic powerhouse currently finds themselves lying in 121st position of the latest FIFA rankings.

Written by Dan Tracey

test test