The Indian football team continued its fall from grace in FIFA world rankings. The Indian team slipped seven spots in the latest rankings released by FIFA, falling from 126 to 133 on Thursday, July 10. This is the team’s lowest position in eight years. The lasr time India were ranked below 130 in the world, was in he 2016-17 season. The decline reflects a difficult year for Indian football, both on and off the pitch.
India’s recent performances have been below expectations. The team played four matches this year, losing three and drawing one against lower-ranked Bangladesh. These results have raised serious concerns about the squad’s form and competitiveness.
The slump has come at a time of coaching uncertainty. Spanish coach Manolo Marquez, who took over in early 2024, recently stepped down following India’s poor run. Under his leadership, the team suffered defeats to opponents ranked lower than India, such as Hong Kong and the Maldives, and even failed to score a single goal against Bangladesh.
Before Marquez took over, the Indian team had briefly seen progress under Igor Stimac, before falling apart in the last two years. The last time India was in the top 100 rankings in the world was during Constantine’s tenure, where India reached as high as 96th, entering the top 100 after years of struggle.
Marquez’s exit has only added to the instability, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) now faces the challenge of appointing a new coach and rebuilding a struggling team. The latest rankings are a clear signal that Indian football is in urgent need of a reset.
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