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Ranked a lowly 117th in the world Fifa rankings just 4 years ago in October 2011, the Dragons are now on the verge of a historic 2nd position in the FIFA rankings that will be released in October if things go their way, as the BBC reported. The charge towards the top of the rankings has been unsurprisingly carried by Wales’ golden boy and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale who has been ably supported by the likes of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and captain Ashley Wiliams.
This drastic change in Wales national team competing with the likes of world champions Germany was unprecedented a few years ago when Wales were tottering along in the FIFA rankings along with the likes of North Korea and Grenada who were nowhere near the elites. However after the death of former Wales player Gary Speed who was the national team coach at that time, Chris Coleman took over the job and started Wales’ most successful period in international football.
Steady improvement, hard work and a dash of Gareth Bale’s goalscoring prowess have now moved Wales ever closer to their first ever major competition in 50 years. After yesterday’s 1-0 win over Cyprus in Nicosia courtesy of a Gareth Bale header in the Euro qualifying match, Wales now just need a win in their home game against Israel to clinch a berth in next year’s European Championships in France.
And as per the BBC if some other international match results go their way they could yet be looking at a higher FIFA ranking than current world champions Germany and five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil. it would be a great story for a team that was ranked below European minnows Azerbaijan not a long time back.
Win against Israel at home needed to go 4th
If Wales beat Isreal on Sunday then they would guarantee themselves a spot at the European Championship in France next year as well as at least the 4th rank in FIFA world rankings. Teams that are currently above Wales in the rankings include Colombia, Portugal, Brazil and Chile, all of whom would be overtaken if Wales win because all of them are currently playing friendlies and even if they win their respective matches, they would still fall below Chris Coleman’s side in the FIFA rankings because of fewer points being awarded to wins in friendlies as compared to wins in competitive matches.
Second in the world?
Current world champions Germany, who defeated Poland last night, could be overtaken by the Dragons if they don’t defeat Scotland too in European Championship qualifying as any points dropped will see them fall behind Wales.
However, the more likely result, if somehow Cyprus manage to beat Belgium on Sunday night and Wales win their match against Israel, they will leapfrog the Belgians into second place which would be an astonishing achievement for Chris Coleman’s side.
