Press releases

MINSK, 21 December (BelTA) - The Belarusian national football team is 91^nd in the December rankings of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), BelTA has learned.

Over the past month Igor Kriushenko’s team has not been in action to keep its previous position with 372 points. In 2017 the Belarusian national team played 11 matches (six 2018 World Cup qualifiers and five friendlies). Belarus celebrated only two victories: 2-1 against Bulgaria (at home; 2018 World Cup qualifier) and 1-0 against New Zealand (at home; friendly). Belarus also drew with Georgia 2-2 (away; friendly) and lost twice 0-4 to Sweden(at home and away; 2018 World Cup qualifier), 0-1 to Luxembourg (away; 2018 World Cup qualifier), 1-3 to Netherlands (at home; 2018 World Cup qualifier), 1-2 to France (away; 2018 World Cup qualifier), 0-3 to Macedonia (away; friendly), 0-1 to Switzerland (away; friendly), 1-4 to Armenia (away; friendly). The goal difference is 8-19. Anton Saroka, a rookie of the national team, scored twice. Mikhail Sivakov, Pavel Savitsky, Maksim Volodko, Denis Polyakov, Igor Stasevich and Pavel Nekhaichik were also among scorers.

Belarus’ best achievement in the FIFA rankings was the 60^th position in November 2007, when the team was coached by German specialist Bernd Stange.

2. Brazil – 1,483

3. Portugal – 1,348

4. Argentina – 1,348

5. Belgium – 1,325

6. Spain – 1,231

7. Poland – 1,209

8. Switzerland – 1,190

9. France – 1,183

10. Chile – 1,162.

Ukraine is ranked highest among the post-Soviet states (35^th). Russia goes 64^th with 534 points, Uzbekistan is 78^th, Estonia – 89^th, Armenia – 90^th, Georgia – 104^th, Turkmenistan – 114^th, Kyrgyzstan – 115^th, Azerbaijan – 117^th, Tajikistan – 126^th, Latvia – 132^nd, Kazakhstan – 137^th, Lithuania – 149^th, and Moldova – 167^th.

The next FIFA rankings will be published in late January 2018.