Belgium, which moved up to third place in the International Football Federation, FIFA, ranking published on the 12th of April, remains at the same place in the latest ranking, released on Thursday. The national team, scheduled to meet Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a friendly on the 2nd of June, had not played an international match since the publication of the previous rankings.
World champion Germany retains the top slot in the new rankings with 1,544 points, ahead of Brazil (1,384), Belgium (1,346), Portugal (1,306) and fifth-placed Argentina (1,254). The rest of the top-10 remains unchanged: 6th Switzerland (1,179), 7th France (1,166), 8th Spain (1,162), 9th Chile (1,146) and 10th Poland (1,128).
The ranking remains unchanged until the 48th place, with Norway, on 608 points moving up one position. The same goes for Georges Leekens’ Hungary (604), now in 49th place, and Cameroon (603) in 50th.
No change in the rankings of the Red Devils’ rivals in Russia World Cup’s Group G: 13th-placed England (1,040), 14th-placed Tunisia (1,012) and 55th-placed Panama (574).
Belgium’s next two friendly matches after Portugal will be held at the Roi Baudoin stadium: against Egypt (46th place, 636 points) on the 6th of June and against 25th-placed Costa Rica (858) on the 11th.
The Red Devils with play their first match at the World Cup at 5 p.m. on Monday, the 18th of June against Panama in Sochi.
The next FIFA rankings will be published on the 7th of June.
The Brussels Times
