FIFA Rankings: Macedonia best climber for 2017!

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.


71. China 498
72. Mali Mali 493
73. UAE UAE 476
74. Zambia 468
75. Uganda 448
76. Macedonia Macedonia 446
77. Syria 442
78. Uzbekistan 441
79. Iraq 438
80. Palestine 434
81. South Africa South Africa 433

Top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings for December 2017:

1. Germany Germany 1602
2. Brazil Brazil 1483
3. Portugal Portugal 1358
4. Argentina 1348
5. Belgium Belgium 1325
6. Spain Spain 1231
7. Poland Poland 1209
8. Switzerland Switzerland 1190
9. France France 1183
10. Chile 1162

FIFA Rankings for the Balkan countries (actual ranking in brackets):

1. (17.) Croatia Croatia 1018
2. (36.) Serbia Serbia 756
3. (37.) Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina 753
4. (41.) Romania Romania 737
5. (42.) Turkey Turkey 735
6. (43.) Bulgaria Bulgaria 719
7. (46.) Montenegro Montenegro 681
8. (47.) Greece Greece 680
9. (62.) Albania Albania 553
10. (69.) Slovenia Slovenia 522
11. (76.) Macedonia Macedonia 446
12. (177.) Kosovo Kosovo 97

FIFA Rankings for UEFA members (actual ranking in brackets, showing only the bottom 25):

31. (59.) Norway Norway 573
32. (62.) Albania Albania 553
33. (64.) Russia Russia 534
34. (66.) Finland Finland 531
35. (69.) Slovenia Slovenia 522
36. (76.) Macedonia Macedonia 446
37. (83.) Luxembourg Luxembourg 407
37. (89.) Estonia Estonia 397
39. (90.) Armenia Armenia 383
40. (91.) Cyprus Cyprus 373
41. (92.) Belarus Belarus 372
42. (95.) Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 364
43. (98.) Israel Israel 355
44. (104.) Georgia Georgia 322
45. (117.) Azerbaijan Azerbaijan 281
46. (132.) Latvia Latvia 233
47. (137.) Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 220
48. (138.) Andorra Andorra 215
49. (149.) Lithuania Lithuania 179
50. (167.) Moldova Moldova 111
51. (177.) Kosovo Kosovo 97
52. (181.) Liechtenstein Liechtenstein 86
53. (184.) Malta Malta 66
54. (204.) San Marino San Marino 11
55. (206.) Gibraltar Gibraltar 0

FIFA Rankings for members of Group G in 2018 World Cup qualifiers (actual ranking in brackets):

1. (6.) Spain Spain 1231
2. (14.) Italy Italy 1052
3. (62.) Albania Albania 553
4. (76.) Macedonia Macedonia 446
5. (98.) Israel Israel 355
6. (181.) Liechtenstein Liechtenstein 86

The next rankings will be published on 18 January 2018.

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