Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
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In a stellar year for Indian football, the FIFA Ranking of the Indian National Team went from zenith to zenith, breaking into the top 100 of world football and leaving behind the demons of March 2015 where India languished at 173 in the FIFA ladder.
In January 2017, India achieved its best ever FIFA Ranking in a decade when Constantine’s men were ranked 129 in a improvement of 49 places in less than two years apart from being the best ever since August 2006. The Indian football team had an encouraging 2016, winning 9 of their last 11 International matches which it played. A win against Peurto Rico, a side ranked 114 much higher was the highlight of the year.
But that was not all. There were better and more happier days to come for Indian football.
In April 2017, India went on to become 101 in the FIFA Ladder whilst being 11th in Asia. The new ranking which were released by FIFA on April 6, 2017 saw India jump 31 places from its last rank of 132 (March 2017) and led to India’s best ever FIFA ranking since May 1996 when India were also ranked 101.
India’s highest FIFA ranking achieved so far has been 94 which was attained in February 1996 while India were ranked 99 in November 1993 and 100 in October 1993, December 1993 and April 1996.
The turnaround of breaking into the top 100 of world football was complete in July 2017 when India were ranked 96 in the FIFA Rankings and 12th in Asia, achieving its best-ever FIFA Ranking since February 1996
India’s best-ever FIFA Ranking till date stays 94 which was attained in February 1996 while 99 stayed India’s second-best FIFA Ranking which was also achieved in November 1993.
Indian Football and the National Team have been on an upsurge with a string of good results leading to a climb of 77 places in FIFA Rankings over the last two years. India were ranked 171 when Constantine took over as National Coach for the second time in February 2015 and slipped further to 173 in March 2015 in the FIFA ladder even before Constantine could have his first game in charge against Nepal, which India eventually won 2-0 on aggregate.
As of December 2017, India are ranked 105 in the FIFA Rankings and have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
