Indian national team (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
Earlier in the day, the latest FIFA World Ranking were released by the world football governing body and in the January rankings, India gained four spots to be in 102nd position behind Oman, but ahead of Qatar; while Germany stay top.
India have 333 points, 13 points more than last month and move-up a spot to be in 14th position of the Asian (AFC) rankings.
India’s next international match is in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup – Round 3 qualifiers next year in March 2018 in Kyrgyzstan.
In South Asia, India remain in top spot ahead of Afghanistan (148th), Maldives (150th), Nepal (165th), Bhutan (188th), Bangladesh (197th), Sri Lanka (200th) and Pakistan (201st) in what was another bad month for the region.
There was no change in the top 5. FIFA World Cup winners and FIFA Confederations Cup champions Germany (1,602 pts) stay top ahead of Brazil (1,483 points), Portugal (1,358 pts), Argentina (1,348 pts) and Belgium (1,325 points) who complete the top five.