India ends 2007 at 143rd in FIFA rankings

New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) India gained two places from previous month to end the year on 143rd in the FIFA rankings released today.

India, who began at 157th in the year, improved 13 places this year largely due to the Nehru Cup win, defeating higher -ranked Syria in the final in August.

Among the Asians, India are in the 26th while Japan still heads the pack, followed by Iran, Korea Republic, Australia and Saudi Arabia, according to information received here.

Maldives were the next best among South Asians at 151st. Pakistan were at 163rd, three places up, while Sri Lanka gained two places to 167th while Bangladesh and Nepal are languishing at 168th and 186th.

Meanwhile, Argentina will end the year as the world's best-ranked team, followed by Brazil, 21 points behind their South American rivals.

World champions Italy are third, just four points behind Brazil, with a comfortable margin of 149 points separating them from fourth-placed Spain.

UNI