INDIA down two, 162nd in latest FIFA World Rankings

The world football governing body released the latest FIFA World Rankings earlier today in which India dropped two places to be now 162nd amongst the 208 ranked nations and territories, while within Asia India remain 29th amongst 46 nations in the rankings. The drop is due to the fact that around the world teams have been playing continental and World Cup qualifiers.

India is 162nd behind Barbados and ahead of New Caledonia with 119 points, four more then last month. The points came from the two friendlies against Malaysia, a draw and then a win; but India lost ranking points from the 2-2 draw against Lebanon in October 2007 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The next official assignment will be SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) next month at home in New Delhi. Ahead of that India play a friendly against African side Zambia on November 29 in Goa, who happen to be 79th in the rankings. A win could give India some valuable points in the rankings.

Meanwhile there has been one change amongst the top five of the FIFA World Rankings. World champions Spain stay at the top with the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay behind them. England with the victories against Spain and Sweden move into fifth ahead of Brazil. The biggest mover into the Top 10 is Croatia in eighth, up four places.