FOOTBALL

FIFA rankings: India jump to 101, best in two decades

india-football-team-reuters India's captain Baichung Bhutia (in blue) unsuccessfully attempts a goal against Myanmar's goalkeeper Aung Aung Oo | Reuters

They were ranked the highest in 1996

  • According to a release issued by All India Football Federation (AIFF), "the last couple of years have been extremely encouraging for Indian football. The national team has had 11 victories in 13 matches (including an unofficial match against Bhutan), scoring a total of 31 goals"

The senior national Indian football team was placed at 101, its best ever ranking in two decades. India jumped 31 places from its previous ranking, 132. This is India’s best ever FIFA ranking since May 1996.

More significantly, India jumped to the 11th rank in Asia, which is far more significant than the overall ranking. Being better ranked, especially cracking the top 16 in Asia, means that one gets a better draw, play against lower ranked, weaker teams and gain points. More importantly, this helps a team maintain its ranking.

India were ranked the highest (94) in 1996.  They were ranked 99 in November 1993 and 100 in October 1993, December 1993 and April 1996.

According to a release issued by All India Football Federation (AIFF), "the last couple of years have been extremely encouraging for Indian football. The national team has had 11 victories in 13 matches (including an unofficial match against Bhutan), scoring a total of 31 goals".

These results include 1-0 victory over Myanmar in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers—the first ever win in Myanmar in over 64 years. The Indian team also registered its first ever win in an away encounter in over a decade when they beat Cambodia 3-2 in an international friendly. The 4-1 win at home for India last year against Puerto Rico was also a high point.

A huge credit for this turnaround goes to national coach Stephen Constantine who steered India on the upward path in his second innings, which began in 2015. The team was then ranked as low as 173. “It has not been an easy road. Bringing in new blood and creating competition for places in the team has been a difficult process. I am pleased that we are moving in the right direction,” said Constantine in a statement.

“It has been a total team effort. Unless AIFF allowed me to do what I wanted, in the manner I wanted it to be done, this won’t have been possible,” he stressed. "I also need to thank the support staff for their commitment for the team," said Constantine.

Kushal Das, general secretary of AIFF, said, “The AIFF is committed to providing the best of exposure and facilities for the national team, in the form of arranging international friendlies and preparatory camps. We are delighted to achieve this milestone and hope to display the same character in our coming matches.”

After achieving the new ranking, India will play Lebanon in their first international friendly at home on June 7, 2017, before taking on Kyrgyz Republic at home on June 13 in their next AFC Asian Cup qualifier match. The team is also slated to play Palestine in October. 

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