Croatia is moving on up!
On Thursday, November 24, 2017, FIFA announced the latest rankings of the best national teams in the wonderful world of football.
The results have fared better for Croatia this time around, and under the leadership of Zlatko Dalić, Croatia has moved up one position to be the 17th best football nation in the world.
Croatia’s improvement in the ranking can be likened to their success in November after they successfully overcame Greece in the World Cup playoffs. Croatia advanced to the World Cup in Russia next year after defeating Greece 4:1 in Zagreb, and drawing 0:0 in Piraeus.
Croatia is up one place from their 18th position last month and has totaled 1018 points (five more than in October). Immediately ahead of Croatia are England and Mexico and immediately behind are Sweden and Wales.
The very top of the rankings saw no change, and Germany remains the top dog with 1602 points. Brazil follows in second with 1483 points and Portugal in third with 1358 points.
A positive shift between the top 10 was achieved by Spain who moved from eighth to sixth place, and Switzerland who improved from eleventh to eighth place.
Interestingly, among the top 10 is one national team that will not play in Russia next year, the current South American champion Chile.
Here are the current standings:
1. (1.) Germany 1602 points
2. (2.) Brazil 1483
3. (3.) Portugal 1358
4. (4.) Argentina 1348
5. (5.) Belgium 1325
6. (8.) Spain 1231
7 (6,) Poland 1209
8. (11.) Switzerland 1190
9. (7.) France 1183
10. (9.) Chile 1162
11. (10.) Peru 1128
12. (19.) Denmark 1099
13. (13.) Colombia 1078
14. (15.) Italy 1052
15. (12.) England 1047
16. (16.) Mexico 1032
17. (18.) Croatia 1018
18. (25.) Sweden 998
19. (14.) Wales 985
20. (20.) Netherlands 952
The Croatian national team will know their opponents in the World Cup after the draw on December 1, 2017, in Moscow.
