In the warm winter sun, on December 22nd, FIFA unveiled the glorious year-end ranking list of national teams. Our soccer team is located in the 80th place, firmly in the eleventh chair within Asia.
Asian soccer powerhouses are as strong as they come, and the top 15 are remarkably strong, in that order:
20 - Japan, a world class team at the top of Asia.
24 - Iran, the Middle Eastern powerhouse, is a close second.
25 - South Korea, one of the top three Asian teams, finished third.
27-Australia, the rising star of soccer across the ocean, came in fourth.
49 - Saudi Arabia, the dominant player in West Asia, fifth chair.
60 - Qatar, host power, sixth place.
68-Iraq, Wolves of the Middle East, 7th place.
70 - UAE, Desert Lions, 8th place.
75 - Oman, a small West Asian country, was ninth.
77 - Uzbekistan, Central Asian powerhouse, 10th.
80-China, East Asian Lions, 11th in Asia.
84 - Jordan, Middle East powerhouse, 12th place.
85 - Bahrain, a small Persian Gulf nation, 13th place.
90-Syria, Footballers in the Middle East War, XIV.
93-Palestine, a breath of fresh air in the Arab world, XV.
The world of soccer is in flux, with the top 20 overall powerhouses in order:
1-Brazil, the South American giant, is proud to be a part of it.
2 - Argentina, Red Devils of America, in hot pursuit.
3 - France, the Gallic Rooster, the dominant European power.
4 - Belgium, Red Devils of Europe, 4th place.
5 - England, Three Lions, 5th.
6-Holland, Orange, sixth.
7 - Croatia, Balkan Lions, 7th.
8-Italy, Blue, eighth.
9-Portugal, European newcomers, ninth.
10-Spain, Legionnaires of the Matadors, 10th.
11 - Morocco, African Eagles, 11th.
12-Switzerland, European irony, 12th.
13-USA, North American Lions, 13th.
14-Germany, Teutonic Chariot, fourteenth.
15-Mexico, North American Eagles, XV.
16 - Uruguay, South American Eagles, sixteenth.
17-Colombia, South American powerhouse, 17th.
18 - Denmark, Nordic Pirates, eighteenth.
19 - Senegal, African Lions, nineteenth.
20-Japan, the Asian juggernaut, is on the list again.
