Kolkata: The Indian football team who had been placed among the top 100 ranked teams in football, ended their four-month prolonged stay, after they dropped by 10 points to be placed at 107 among 211 countries, in the latest Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings released on Thursday.
The Men in Blue, who had entered the top 100 in the FIFA rankings in the month of May this year, dropped down the ladder mainly due to lack of international matches against higher ranked teams.
India, who are on a 11-match unbeaten streak played three matches in the month of September so far. It included the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against Macau and matches against Mauritius and St. Kitts and Nevis in the the Tri-nation series.
The Sunil Chhetri-led team won two matches and drew one out of the three they played. But other results combined with the fact that all the three teams against whom India played were ranked below them which hampered their chances of scoring high points. Thus, resulting in a downfall in the rankings.
India defeated Macau 2-0 in Asian Cup Qualifiers, a win that fetched them 318.75 points while their 2-1 win over Mauritius in the Tri-nation series gave them just 127.5 points, as it was considered to be in the same point category as the friendlies. However their 1-1 draw against St. Kitts and Nevis in the same tournament fetched them just 63.75 points.
Earlier, the country created history when on May 4, they entered the top 100 in the FIFA rankings for the first time in 21 years. The ranking went on to improve and rise to 96 in July before dropping to 97 in August. India, had also entered the top 100 in 1996, but the rank of 94th in February 1966 remains the country’s best ever FIFA ranking till date.
The Blue Tigers next play Macau, in the return leg of the 2019 AFC Asia cup qualifier on October 10. India are well placed on top of the group and a win would only take them closer to the qualification. India’s match against Palestine on October 2 has been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Germany claimed the number one spot, followed by Brazil on second and Portugal on third. Interestingly power houses England and Uruguay are placed at 15th and 16th, while surprise package Luxembourg who put up a brilliant draw against eight-placed France, climbed 35 places to 101st, their highest ranking ever.