The inactive period resulted only in minor changes without effecting the Lynx who end this successful year 2017 as 76th footballing nation in the world having climbed 86 places since last January.
The Football federation of Macedonia received an invitation by the United Arab Emirates for a friendly this month, but decided that it is the best to turn it down. It was a good decision because many of the internationals still had matches with their clubs and could not be summoned since it is not an official FIFA date for national team games, while the domestic league and cup also had games, those of Vardar that were postponed due the Europa League group stage activity.
Playing against the UAE away with a third, maybe a fourth team, would result in a defeat and unnecessary losing points. With turning down that offer, Macedonia stayed 76th and became the best climber for 2017 as during the entire year managed to climb 86 places. We leave behind Andorra, who climbed 65 places and Lebanon with 62.
Keep in mind that best mover for 2017 is Denmark. Movers are ranked by points achieved, while climbers by ranked by places.
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71. China 498
72. Mali 493
73. UAE 476
74. Zambia 468
75. Uganda 448
76. Macedonia 446
77. Syria 442
78. Uzbekistan 441
79. Iraq 438
80. Palestine 434
81. South Africa 433
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Top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings for December 2017:
1. Germany 1602
2. Brazil 1483
3. Portugal 1358
4. Argentina 1348
5. Belgium 1325
6. Spain 1231
7. Poland 1209
8. Switzerland 1190
9. France 1183
10. Chile 1162
FIFA Rankings for the Balkan countries (actual ranking in brackets):
1. (17.) Croatia 1018
2. (36.) Serbia 756
3. (37.) Bosnia and Herzegovina 753
4. (41.) Romania 737
5. (42.) Turkey 735
6. (43.) Bulgaria 719
7. (46.) Montenegro 681
8. (47.) Greece 680
9. (62.) Albania 553
10. (69.) Slovenia 522
11. (76.) Macedonia 446
12. (177.) Kosovo 97
FIFA Rankings for UEFA members (actual ranking in brackets, showing only the bottom 25):
31. (59.) Norway 573
32. (62.) Albania 553
33. (64.) Russia 534
34. (66.) Finland 531
35. (69.) Slovenia 522
36. (76.) Macedonia 446
37. (83.) Luxembourg 407
37. (89.) Estonia 397
39. (90.) Armenia 383
40. (91.) Cyprus 373
41. (92.) Belarus 372
42. (95.) Faroe Islands 364
43. (98.) Israel 355
44. (104.) Georgia 322
45. (117.) Azerbaijan 281
46. (132.) Latvia 233
47. (137.) Kazakhstan 220
48. (138.) Andorra 215
49. (149.) Lithuania 179
50. (167.) Moldova 111
51. (177.) Kosovo 97
52. (181.) Liechtenstein 86
53. (184.) Malta 66
54. (204.) San Marino 11
55. (206.) Gibraltar 0
FIFA Rankings for members of Group G in 2018 World Cup qualifiers (actual ranking in brackets):
1. (6.) Spain 1231
2. (14.) Italy 1052
3. (62.) Albania 553
4. (76.) Macedonia 446
5. (98.) Israel 355
6. (181.) Liechtenstein 86
The next rankings will be published on 18 January 2018.