With the UEFA Nations’ Cup and the Copa America CONMEBOL, international football has taken a turn for the better. It is exciting, result oriented and gives newer teams a taste of playing the best of the best in the business. International rankings are published by FIFA every month. The latest one came on 29th October, 2019. Surprisingly, European giants Germany and Italy failed to feature in the Top 10. So, who made it? We take a look.
10. Colombia- Top 10 Football Teams
A surprise inclusion, given that James Rodriguez’s national team didn’t leave quite a mark in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. But consistent performances under Carlos Queiroz have improved the team and the Yellows are looking up now.
A fresh new centre-back pairing of Yerry Mina and Davison Sanchez has provided solidity to the squad also comprising of Rodriguez, Falcao and Cuadrado among other notables.
9. Argentina- Top 10 Football Teams
Scaloni’s Argentina are not the Argentina that we’re used to seeing. This is a team with youth and inexperience, building for the future, notably the 2022 World Cup.
Messi still is the fulcrum of this team while youngsters like Martinez, Lo Celso, Paredes and Foyth form the crux of the Albeiceste that finished fourth in the recently concluded Copa America.
8. Spain- Top 10 Football Teams
It is heart-breaking to see the Spaniards drop down to as low as 8th, but things could have been worse. Luis Enrique is guiding a new team post the Julen Lopetegui saga that rocked their World Cup.
Spain crashed out in the Round of 16 of the World Cup and looks all set to the stage by storm in the 2020 Euros. Young talent in the form of Alvaro Morata, Isco, Rodrigo, Asensio and Kepa have made them a really interesting team to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrtOut_0LM0
7. Croatia- Top 10 Football Teams
Croatia deserves FIFA recognition and more. The underdogs of the Russia World Cup challenged France all the way for the prize and ended up just short.
They were the fairy-tale everyone dreams of. Captained by Ballon d’Or holder Luka Modric, the Croatians possess technicality and skill in the form of Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic and Vida at the back.
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6. Portugal- Top 10 Football Teams
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is one of the most exciting teams in World Football right now. Since lifting the Euro 2016 in France, Fernando Santos’ boys have knit together a close unit centered around their masterpiece Cristiano Ronaldo.
Their victory in the recently concluded UEFA Nations’ Cup only confirms the fact that they are headed in the right direction. They will be defending their European crown in 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh-urHELBAg
5. Uruguay- Top 10 Football Teams
Gone are the days when Uruguay joined competitions to make up the numbers. The current squad possesses a variety of talent in the form of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin, Jose Jimenez and Rodrigo Bentancur among others.
Coached by the ever-present Oscar Tarbarez, Uruguay look the team to beat in international friendlies now.
4. England- Top 10 Football Teams
Ask any English football supporter and they’ll tell you what disappointment looks like. After the golden generation of the Gerrards, Rooneys and the Lampards, this English team under Gareth Southgate is young, hungry and result oriented.
Southgate is blessed to have some of the best talent in the World at his disposal in the form of Sterling, Kane, Rashford, Stones, Maguire, Trippier and Dele Alli. Their semis finish in the World Cup and spot-on performances in the UEFA Nations’ Cup have grabbed eyeballs no doubt.
3. Brazil- Top 10 Football Teams
The Samba flair might not be the characteristic of this current Brazil football team, yet they have made sure that disappointments in the last couple of World Cups have not bogged them down.
Tite is guiding a list of world-class talent in the Brazilian national team led by Neymar, Willian, Coutinho, Allisson, Thiago Silva, Fernandinho and Richarlison.
2. France- Top 10 Football Teams
The French have everything in the footballing World right now. Didier Deschamps’ side have the best young talent in the World, the best attackers in modern football, some of the most creative midfielders and two of the most sought after fullbacks.
The World Champions have the likes of Pogba, Griezmann, Mbappe, Umtiti and captain Lloris to boast of. After their dominating performance in the Euro 2016, it was only a matter of time before they started winning trophies. And then came the World Cup.
1. Belgium- Top 10 Football Teams
The dark horses of any tournament these days, Belgium have made the No.1 spot for their natural habitat for quite some time.
Graced by the likes of Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium finished 3rd in the 2018 World Cup and knocked out heavyweights like Brazil and England before succumbing to France in the semis.