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| Photo from FIFA / Philippine Women's National Football Team |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA - The Philippine Women's National Football Team climbs to 44th place in the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking after the conclusion of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Friday.
It was another all-time high for the Filipinas, which ups two spots from number 46 last June, backed by a 1-0-2 performance in the biggest stage of football which saw them beat current number 26 New Zealand, 1-0.
The recent results also saw them climb to 1540.89 points, 27.92 points higher than June's 1512.97, overtaking both Northern Ireland and Thailand, as well as fellow World Cup participants South Africa.
Asia-wise, they are now the seventh best team in the confederation and the second-best team in Southeast Asia, overtaking the Thais who beaten Hong Kong in a friendly last August 13.
The Filipinas has chances to better their rankings as they have at least six more matches before end of year, with games against Hong Kong (77th), South Korea (20th), and Myanmar (51st) in the Asian Games in China in September, as well as Chinese Taipei (38th), Australia (11th), and Iran (63rd) at Perth, Australia in late October.
Sweden overtakes Spain; Morocco up by 14
Sweden meanwhile was hailed as the top team in the rankings despite finishing third in the competition with 2069.17 points, while current world champions Spain ranked second with 2051.84 points, with their haul being hurt by a sound 0-4 defeat to Japan, losing them 35 points in the process.
Last world champions and former top-ranked team the United States went third with 2051.21, with England and France wrapping up the top five.
Japan's run to the quarterfinals, including topping the group stages, helped them to be Asia's top team to eighth overall and 1961.35 points, while Australia, China, South Korea, and current ASEAN leaders Vietnam wrapping up the top five.
Morocco's remarkable run in the competition, including 1-0 upsets against South Korea and Colombia, saw them as the best mover in the competition with 104.22 point increase, along with fellow African nations Nigeria (+94.14), South Africa (+66..80), and Zambia (+64.28).
The North African country is also the ranking's biggest climbers as they ascend 14 places from 72nd to 58th.
Germany, who failed to reach the round of 16 for the first time, shed the largest points with -73.89, followed by South Korea (-66.34), Equatorial Guinea (-54.17), Norway (-51.80), and Canada (-51.50).
Equatorial Guinea also lost nine spots from 70th to 79th, the rankings' biggest drop, as they lost away 0-2 and drew 0-0 to lowly Namibia in the Olympic qualifiers.
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