Qatar Emerge 'Mover of the Year', Belgium '2019 Team of the Year'
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Great City, Quality Franchise, Flat wicket, Don’t have to play against Bumrah. - Australia’s Chris Lynn in a tweet after being picked by Mumbai Indians at IPL auction FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 Qatar emerge ‘Mover of the Year’, Belgium ‘2019 Team of the Year’ England climbing one place Al Annabi biggest to reach fourth and Uruguay moving up to fifth on the back climber on points of a two-spot rise. Argentina (9th) and Colombia (10th) in FIFA rankings have also entered the top ten at the expense of Switzerland AGENCIES (12th) and Denmark (16th), ZURICH who slipped four and six places respectively over the QATAR’S national football course of the year. team has emerged as the Some Arab teams, such ‘Mover of the Year’ in the as Tunisia, Algeria, Moroc- FIFA rankings throughout co, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, 2019. maintained their ranking of The 2022 FIFA World Cup last month. hosts gained an impressive The Senegalese team also 138 points over the course of remained at the top of the Af- a year in which they won their rican rankings, and ranked historic AFC Asian Cup (for 20th in the world. the first time), and made a Given the teams who have strong start to the Asian Zone made most progress in 2019, World Cup qualifiers. it’s no surprise to find that Besides accumulating the the regional composition of biggest points haul, Qatar the top 50 has changed over also climbed a year-high 38 the year, with Europe’s domi- places, followed closely by nance diminished. UEFA has fellow climbers Algeria (up lost three places in the top 32 ranks) and Japan (up 22 50 compared to the end of ranks). 2018, and now has 28 teams, The Qatari team main- whereas Concacaf (4), AFC tained their position in the (4) and CAF (4) have all last FIFA rankings for 2019, gained one spot apiece. by being ranked 55th and 5th But despite all the change in the Asian continent with witnessed over 2019, the year 1396 points. 2019 Asian champions Qatar maintained their position in the last FIFA rankings for 2019, by being ranked 55th and 5th in the Asian continent with 1396 points. has ended on a quiet note, At the Asian level, the with only the most mod- Japanese team topped the est of movements due to the Asian rankings, after it Rankings status scarcity of fixtures since the ranked 28th in the world, and LEADER BELGIUM (UNCHANGED) Ranking’s November edition. the Bahraini team advanced Moves into top 10 none Nonetheless, eight teams – to become the 99th globally Moves out of top 10 none Bahrain (99th, up 1), Bolivia and 17 Asian, while the Saudi Matches played in total 19 (75th, up 1), Korea Republic national team ranked 67th in Most matches played Bahrain, Saudi Arabia (5 games each) (40th, up 1), Lesotho (139th, Biggest move by points Bahrain (up 6 points) the world and sixth in Asia. Biggest move by ranks Bahrain, Bolivia, Korea Republic, Lesotho, up 1), Solomon Islands (141st, Belgium, meanwhile, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St Kitts and up 1), South Africa (71st, up were declared as the FIFA/ Nevis, Suriname (up 1 rank each) 1), St Kitts and Nevis (139th, Coca-Cola World Ranking’s Biggest drop by points United Arab Emirates (minus 4 points) up 1) and Suriname (141st, ‘Team of the Year’ for a sec- Biggest drop by ranks Hong Kong (minus 2 ranks) up 1) – have edged a single ond successive time after a Newly ranked teams None rung up the ladder, and will record-breaking year for the Belgium were declared as the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking’s ‘Team of the Year’ for a second successive Teams that are no longer ranked None hope to continue that pro- global ladder. The Red Devils time after a record-breaking year for the global ladder. Inactive teams, not ranked Cook Islands gress in 2020. hold on to top spot in a De- The next FIFA/Coca-Cola cember table barely impacted 1082 international A matches Ranking’s 1993 inception – World champions France second and third, the posi- 2018, but the make-up of the World Ranking will be re- by just 19 friendlies, but with – an all-time high since the having already been played. and Brazil also remain in tions they held in December top five has changed, with leased on 20th February 2020. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a dream Alisson relishing for players and fans, says Beckham chance to full SC.QA DOHA his childhood ENGLAND legend David Beckham believes Qatar will dream host a unique version of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 that Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 semi-nal will inspire future generations. against Mexico’s Monterrey at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. (AFP) During a visit to Education I wish I was still City Stadium - exactly three playing because to IVERPOOL stood firm in I have many friends on their “The team we put out, years before the Qatar 2022 LDoha against a lively Mon- side,” he explained. “We’re very we’ve probably never played, final will take place - the for- play in stadiums like terrey to tee up a FIFA Club proud to be here, we want to especially Jordan Henderson mer Manchester United, Real this, it’s a dream. World Cup Qatar 2019 final win it and we’ll give everything in his first game at centre- Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy Players are going to against Flamengo. It was one on the pitch to make it happen.” back, but he showed the kind and Paris Saint-Germain star step closer to completing a When at their best Fla- of professional he is. We’ve got said Qatar’s tournament will be spoilt here. dream for the man who kept mengo can rival Liverpool at a couple of days to prepare for be ‘a dream’ for players and — David Beckham the Reds in the game as they their free-flowing peak, but the final, we’ll maybe have a fans thanks to its friendliness searched for their winner. Andy Robertson acknowl- couple of players back, so we’ll and state-of-the-art facilities. “It’s something I’ve grown edged that neither the Mer- be good to go.” “I think as a player and a Former England star David Beckham (left) with Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery up with, the dream and life goal seysiders nor their upcoming With Monterrey sitting fan you want to visit a World & Legacy Hassan al Thawadi at the Education City Stadium in Doha on Thursday. of playing in a Club World opponents hit top gear in deep and looking to capital- Cup competition with great Cup,” Alisson Becker told their semi-final victories. ise on the uncertainty within facilities, safe facilities, great It changes economies, changes “Most importantly, it’s al- that can be me one day.” FIFA.com at fulltime. “We know they’re a Liverpool’s side with some di- hotels and great culture – people’s lives, changes fan ex- ways been such a family en- Thawadi took the chance “Yesterday my former fantastic team with a lot of rect play, Robertson found the and that’s what Qatar is all periences and gives people vironment here – and I think to thank Beckham for visiting club, Internacional from experience, that have played space he loves down the left about,” said Beckham, who an opportunity to experience that is something as a player Education City Stadium, which Porto Alegre, celebrated worldwide at the highest level, flank hard to come by. It be- was given a tour of Educa- football in places you wouldn’t and a fan you really want at will become the third tourna- when they won the Club so we know we need to be bet- came something of a war of at- tion City Stadium by Secre- expect to visit. It’s given Qatar a World Cup. Three years to ment venue to be unveiled World Cup (in 2006). I was ter than tonight,” the full-back trition that took until the 91st tary-General of the Supreme an opportunity to do some- the day until the World Cup when it opens in early 2020. just a supporter at that admitted, fresh from seeing minute to be won. Committee for Delivery & thing that’s so special and, as final it’s going to be pretty “It was a pleasure to wel- time, and I remember the Roberto Firmino snatch “It was a proper game. Legacy Hassan al Thawadi. you see, something unique is incredible.” come David to Qatar and show moment – I was with my their 2-1 stoppage-time vic- They put everything into it. You “I wish I was still playing really being created here.” Beckham, who won 19 ma- him round our latest tourna- friends and I celebrated tory. “They struggled in the could see them getting really because to play in stadiums A regular visitor to Qa- jor trophies during a glittering ment venue, Education City it a lot.” first half, but they dominat- tired and we knew we had the like this, it’s a dream. Players tar in recent years, Beckham 20-year playing career, added Stadium. It was wonderful to The Best FIFA Men’s ed the second half and rightly fitness to get the better of them. are going to be spoilt here,” said he had seen the country that Qatar 2022 will inspire hear him say how impressed Goalkeeper’s next task will be got into the final.” “The last 15-20 minutes he added.