Brazil return to top spot
Olympic Champions Brazil returned to the top spot in the world of soccer within a month with 1604 points. According to the latest FIFA ranking released on August 10, World Champions Germany are in the second position securing 1549 points, while World Runners-up Argentina are far behind with 1399 points. Germany, however, have a chance to topple Brazil as the European nation have more World Cup qualifying matches than Brazil to play.
Europe Champions Portugal and Copa America Champions Chile are 6th and 7th in ranking with 1267 and 1250 points respectively. But surprisingly Switzerland (1329) and Poland (1319) annex 4th and 5th positions ahead of Portugal and Chile, which questions FIFA’s point system.
In Asia, Iran maintain their supremacy with 893 points ahead of Japan (696), Asia Champions Australia (691) and South Korea (674). The three other continents’ top ranking teams are Egypt (866) in Africa, Mexico (1046) in North America and New Zealand (258) in Oceania.
It may be mentioned that Iran are the second team after brazil to have qualified for World Cup 2018.
In South Asia, India are top with 341 points and Bangladesh are third from bottom with 60 points.
P.Rojario
Dhaka
Azerbaijan dominates Islami Solidarity Games
It is really mournful that we had little interest about the 11-day 4th Islami Solidarity Games concluded on May 22 in Azerbaijan. It may be that we are very much active to gather news about European football, cricket and tennis only.
However, hosts Azerbaijan topped the medal table with 75 gold, 50 silver and 37 bronze medals ahead of Turkey who annexed 71 gold, 67 silver and 57 bronze medals. On the other hand, Iran finished third with 39+26+33 medals. Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Egypt and Kyrgyzstan captured 4th to the 10th places.
Bangladesh also took part and captured with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal to finish 21st among 54 contesting nations of 4000 athletes. Azerbaijan annexed the soccer gold beating Oman 2-1 in the final. Algeria beat Cameroon to take the bronze.
Khurshida Hoque
Rajshahi
