Azkals move one spot up in FIFA rankings

Ivan Saldajeno (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

The Philippine Azkals go a notch higher in the latest FIFA rankings.

The Azkals climb from 129th place to 128th after amassing 231 points.

Despite a 0-3 beating by Thailand, the Azkals bounced back with three straight wins, a 3-0 rout of Cambodia in a friendly in Manila and two more in the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup, the last being a breakthrough 4-0 blanking of Indonesia.

The Azkals remain the top team in South East Asia and 17th in the whole of Asia.

The Thais got a huge boost in their win against the Azkals as they move 21 rankings up to 144th place.

Germany remains as the top FIFA team after collecting 1,725 points, while Argentina follows with 1,538.

Portugal continues its resurgence as the Cristiano Ronaldo-led national team, who beat the Lionel Messi-starred Argentines in a friendly, climbs to number seven from number nine in the last rankings.

Spain, on the other hand, continurs to bounce back from its stinging World Cup early elimination as the Spaniards move one spot up to ninth.

Japan remains as the top team in Asia despite dropping a spot to 53rd overall.

Faroe Islands is the biggest overachiever in the newest FIFA update as the team, ranked 187th last month, even overtook the Azkals and climbed to 105th place, an 82-spot upgrade.

Iraq, on the other hand, suffered the biggest decline as the Iraqis slipped 23 spots to 104th spot.