ZURICH: Belgium have claimed the Team of the Year awards from the FIFA World Ranking with their first-place finish in the last ranking of 2015.

The Red Devils jumped into first position (for the first time) in the November ranking, but a 3-1 victory over four-time world champions Italy in Brussels on November 13 has seen them hold on to the coveted position for the final ranking of 2015.

The past year has proved to be highly competitive, with second-placed Argentina and third-placed Spain outpacing 2014 Team of the Year Germany in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for 2015.

Turkey have claimed the award for Mover of the Year for 2015 thanks to the 329 points they have collected over the last 12 months of football.

Having last competed at a major tournament back in 2008, Turkey secured a place at UEFA Euro 2016 in a campaign that saw them defeat Holland, Czech Republic and Iceland in the crucial final stages.

Further big movers for 2015 include Hungary (20th, up 313 points) and Nicaragua (92nd, up 295 points).

Hungary made history in November by defeating Norway in a two-legged play-off to secure a place at Euro 2016, which will mark their first appearance at a major finals since the 1986 World Cup.

Those results have also pushed the Hungarians into their best-ever position in the ranking.

Similarly, Kyrgyzstan and Nicaragua are also currently higher in the ranking than they have ever been before. In contrast, Portugal have fallen three places to 7th having lost 145 points – the most points lost by a team in November.

The December edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has been dominated by 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Of the 137 matches taken into account for the latest ranking, more than two-thirds (92 games) were World Cup qualifiers, eight were play-off matches to determine the final four teams to qualify for EURO 2016, and the remaining 37 matches were international friendlies.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 7 January 2016.

Summary

Leader Belgium (unchanged)

Moves into top ten none

Moves out of top ten none

Matches played in total 137

Most matches played Congo DR, Zambia, Angola, Namibia (4 matches each)

Biggest move by points Hungary (up 186 points)

Biggest move by ranks Libya (up 32 ranks)

Biggest drop by points Portugal (down 145 points)

Biggest drop by ranks Liberia (down 21 ranks)

# # # #