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Football: Poland move up to No. 23 in FIFA rankings

25.10.2021 09:30
Poland have moved up one spot to No. 23 in the latest world football rankings, which were released after a series of World Cup qualifiers this autumn.
Poland players stand together for the national anthem before a World Cup qualifier against Albania earlier this month.
Poland players stand together for the national anthem before a World Cup qualifier against Albania earlier this month.Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

Poland, captained by star strikeRobert Lewandowski, this month demolished underdogs San Marino 5-0 and then beat Albania 1-0 in a crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier, keeping alive their hopes of reaching next year's football tournament in Qatar.

Belgium, who finished third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, remain at the top of the FIFA rankings, ahead of Brazil.

World champions and UEFA Nations League winners France are at No. 3, ahead of European champions Italy in fourth spot.

Meanwhile, Euro 2020 runners-up England, who are Poland's biggest rivals in qualifying for next year's World Cup, are No. 5 in the FIFA table.

After eight rounds of fixtures, Poland are in second place in their qualifying Group I, behind England, with 17 points and a plus-17 goal differential.

Poland's 2022 World Cup qualifying group also includes Hungary, who are ranked 43rd by FIFA; Albania, who are in 63rd place; Andorra, who are ranked 152nd; and San Marino, who are last in the FIFA table, at No. 210.

The Poles, under Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa, will now take on Andorra in their next World Cup qualifying fixture away from home on November 12.

The qualification stage for the 2022 World Cup runs until next month, while the tournament will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.

Poland in 2017 had climbed to No. 5 in the FIFA table, the best result for the Polish team since the world football governing body’s ranking was launched in 1992.

Poland's lowest place in the world rankings was 78th, in 2013.

(gs)

Source: PAP, fifa.com