Ukraine’s national soccer team moved up eight places to 27th on the latest world ranking compiled by FIFA, the international soccer governing body.
Released on July 9, FIFA’s ranking uses statistics from matches played over the past four years to determine a team’s placement, adding the average points gained in matches over the past 12 months to the average points gained in matches older than 12 months.
The new table relegates 2014 World Cup champions Germany to second place, with Argentina claiming the top spot. Belgium, Colombia and Netherlands round out the top five, while Spain and Uruguay have both dropped out of the top 10.
Ukraine is now ahead of Russia, Poland and the U.S., after a solid year including victories in friendlies against Moldova and Georgia and draws against Latvia and Lithuania. Ukrainian Premier League teams also enjoyed a successful season, with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk having played in the Europa Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.
The national team must now turn its focus to the qualifying matches for the 2016 European championship, which recommence in September. Ukraine currently holds third place in Group C after four wins and two losses. Slovakia (ranked 15th) leads the group, with 2012 title-holders Spain (12th) in second place. Belarus (100th), FYR Macedonia (105th) and Luxembourg (146th) complete the group. Apart from automatic qualification for the Euro 2012 as a host nation, advancing past the qualifiers would be a first for the Ukrainian team.
Ukraine resumes its campaign at the Arena Lviv on Sept. 5, where it will take on Belarus, followed by an away match against Slovakia in the Štadión MŠK Žilina on Sept. 8.
Sandra MacKenzie can be reached at [email protected].
