Indian football team now stands at 101 in FIFA rankings after defeating Myanmar on the back of Sunil Chhetri’s goal. This advance in rankings is also likely to trickle down to the FIFA sphere with FIFA 18 expected to have a better and higher rated Indian team.
India’s position has improved in excess of 70 places over the past two years and this is their best ranking in almost two decades.
The Indians have traditionally been one of the worst teams on FIFA since the country’s debut on the game in FIFA 13. The highest rated Indian player till date has been Sunil Chhetri with a rating of 67 that he got in FIFA 17. However, things are likely to improve drastically with Chhetri set to enter the 70+ mark with FIFA 18 as per EA sources.
The Men in Blue have been on an impressive run of seven unbeaten games with a settled squad and the same will be reflected on FIFA 18. The first choice shot-stopper will in all probability be Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who last year achieved the distinction of being the only Indian footballer to have ever played for a top-division European club.
He is India’s best hope between the sticks and can expect him to be rated at or around the 70 rating point mark.
The Indian Tigers defence is led by the intimidating presence of Sandesh Jhingan. The Kerala Blasters defender is by far India’s best centre back on FIFA 17 with a rating of 61 but has a potential rating of 71 rating points.
The Bengaluru FC defender should be partnered in defence by Arnab Mondal, who can sweep up behind once Jhinghan goes in search of the ball. Mondal may lack a yard or two in space but makes up for it with his physicality and imposing presence.
The full back positions are expected to be filled by the electric pace of Keegan Pereira at left back while the right full-back spot will likely go to Pritam Kotal, who is also one of the faster players in this Indian lineup.
The midfield engine room is likely to consist of veteran midfielders Eugenson Lyngdoh, who is rated at 59 in FIFA 17 but should be rated higher in the upcoming version of the game. Complimenting Lyngdoh’s attacking box-to-box nature will be the more defensive minded Mohamed Rafique, whose better attributes include passing, positioning and distribution of the ball.
The Indian team is considerably well-stocked in the wings department with the fleet-footed Lalrindika Ralte and Holicharan Narzary taking their place on the flanks. Ralte was India’s second best player in FIFA 17 and he should be rated in or around the 70 point mark in the upcoming version of the game while Narzary is still a young prospect, aged 22 and will be ranked lower in comparison to his more experienced partner on the wings.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri will, in all probability, be the highest ranked player in the Indian team next season. Sources close to EA have said that a rating of around 73-74 should be expected for the Indian captain, which will make him the highest rated Indian ever on FIFA.
Chhetri can expect to be paired with a new partner on FIFA 18 with the rise of Kerala forward C.K. Vineeth, who was on fire in the ISL. Vineeth too should be rated around the 70 point mark, complimenting Chhetri’s attributes to form a potentially destructive strike partnership.
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