Malta loses two places in FIFA Ranking

Malta lost two places in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking and now is ranked 150th.

Among the other European countries, Malta is ranked 51st. Lying just ahead of Malta are Liechtenstein (129, up 8), Iceland (131, down 10), Cyprus (133, down 4), Kazakhstan (137, up 5) and Moldova (142, up 1). Andorra and San Marino are ranked 205th.

The national team will be in action in June in a friendly match against Luxembourg away from home.

Meanwhile twenty-four matches were taken into account for the April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, three-quarters of which were played at the AFC Challenge Cup.

Asian representatives Turkmenistan (142nd, up 24) and Korea DPR (86th, up 25) were the month’s strongest teams, each topping their group and sailing through to the final of the AFC Challenge Cup unbeaten. Thanks to a late goal in the 87th minute, the North Koreans triumphed 2-1 and are thus through to the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia.

In the leading pack, the Netherlands (4th, down 2) slipped out of the top three for the first time since June 2010. Climbers Germany (2nd, up 1) and Uruguay (3rd, up 1) are now the closest challengers to leaders Spain (1st, unchanged). The third-place ranking of La Celeste is the country’s highest ever in its long and successful football history.

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