Good Sports: HEADING UP IN SOCCER
No, India won’t be challenging Brazil for soccer supremacy anytime soon, but Sunil Chhetri and company have moved up 31 spots in the FIFA world rankings, finding themselves 100 spots behind Brazil.
At No. 101 in the world, the Indian team has achieved its highest ranking in two decades, thanks to six consecutive victories, including a recent 1-0 win against Myanmar in the thirdround opener of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
India is now the 11th ranked team in Asia. India was ranked 171st in the world when British coach Stephen Constantine took over the team for the second time in early 2015.
“It has been a difficult road,” he told the All-India Football Federation website. “Bringing in new blood and creating competition for places in the team has been a process, and I’m pleased we are moving in the right direction.”
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