After second-place finish in Challenge Cup, Azkals improve 11 spots in FIFA rankings

The Philippine Azkals managed to finish second in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, their best performance in an international tournament to date, and this accomplishment was reflected in the latest FIFA rankings, which saw the team zoom up 11 places to 129 in the world.

It’s a big boost for the team, as it’s just two spots shy of their highest-ever placing, 127, a spot they occupied for three months from December 2013 to February 2014.

The Philippines is now 19th in the Asian Football Confederation, sandwiched by Tajikistan (126) and Afghanistan (130). Palestine, as a result of their Challenge Cup win, zoomed up 71 spots to 94, 10th in the AFC.

In the top five of the FIFA rankings, Spain and Germany hold steady at one and two respectively. World Cup hosts Brazil climbed up one spot, Portugal dropped to fourth, while Argentina took two steps up for fifth place.

During the Challenge Cup, the Philippines drew against Afghanistan, beat Laos and Turkmenistan by identical results of 2-0, edged host country Maldives 3-2, and then lost to Palestine 1-0. - AMD, GMA News