India remain static in FIFA rankings, Brazil move to 2nd spot (Roundup)

India have held onto the 137th spot in the world rankings for the month of November, according to global football's governing body FIFA.

Currently managed by British coach Stephen Constantine, India are placed 22nd among Asian teams with 217 points.

This is India's best ranking since August 2010. They have however, lost 13 points from last month's total of 230 as they did not play any matches in the past two international windows.

They played their last match on September 4 -- an international friendly against Puerto Rico which they convincingly won 4-1 at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai.

Iran are the top ranked team in Asia although they have dropped three places in the latest FIFA rankings.

According to Xinhua news agency, Iran are now placed at the 30th position after last week' s goalless draw against Syria in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Despite the decline in the latest ratings released on Thursday, Iran are still the top team in Asia, followed by South Korea, Japan and Australia.

At the top of the FIFA ladder, five-time World Cup winners Brazil rose to second place as they closed the gap on leaders and bitter rivals Argentina.

Brazil were rewarded for winning their past six CONMEBOL group World Cup qualifiers by moving up one place in the standings.

The South Americans displaced Germany, who slipped to the third spot despite winning each of their first four World Cup qualifiers by an aggregate of 16 goals.

Argentina, fifth in the CONMEBOL standings with just five wins from 12 matches, remain the world's top team but have seen their lead slashed to 90 points from 156 points in October.

Copa America champions Chile were the biggest movers inside the top 10, climbing two places to fourth.

Republic of Ireland jumped 10 places to 23rd on the back of three straight wins in the World Cup qualifiers.

Senegal were the highest ranked team among African nations. They have come down by one spot to be placed at the 33rd spot.

The west Africans have a total of 755 points, down from last month's tally of 783.

Fellow west African nation Côte d'Ivoire and Tunisia share the 34th spot while Egypt are 36th.

--IANS

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