"The team is doing everything possible, the rest is convention": the Russian team climbed six places in the FIFA rating

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has updated its ranking of national teams.

The Russian national team, after two victories over Serbia and Hungary in the League of Nations, rose six places, from 38th to 32nd.

This is the best indicator since June 2016.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the FIFA rating has been effectively frozen for seven months.

Only in September were the first matches of the national teams after a long break, which were able to influence the balance of power in world football.

Now the position on this list is gaining special importance, since already in November it will be used to determine the composition of the baskets for the draw of the qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup.

The Russian national team will be selected together with other European teams, which will be allocated 13 tickets to Qatar.

Before the update of the FIFA rating, Stanislav Cherchesov's wards were in 23rd place among European teams and only made it to the third draw basket.

But now the position of the national team has noticeably improved.

The jump to six places was generally the best among all the teams included in the FIFA rankings.

Speaking specifically about European teams, the Russian national team has risen to 18th place, and this is just enough to be in the second basket.

At the moment, this excludes the possibility of falling into the same group with Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Wales, Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, Turkey and Romania.

However, six more matches will be played in the fall, including two friendlies, which may affect the position of the Russians.

It is with the Serbs and Turks that Stanislav Cherchesov's wards will meet in the League of Nations, and now three games with them are becoming especially important.

It will largely depend on them how the selection draw for the world championship will be held for Russia.

If in matches with direct competitors for the second basket there is an unsatisfactory result, the road to Qatar will become much more difficult.

According to the former head coach of the Russian national team Boris Ignatiev, the current position of the team in the FIFA rankings suggests that it is moving in the right direction.

However, he urged not to overestimate its current position.

“I would not consider it news to hit 32nd place.

If they became the first or entered the top three, it would be prestigious and interesting.

But there is dynamics, there is a team that is trying not to move up the rating, but simply to do their job.

We were rather pleased with the last two victories.

We didn't think during the games that it would be good to advance in the ranking.

The team does its best, and the rest is convention.

Something may mean being in the top ten, then the sponsors have an interest in the team.

We can say that the team is getting better, but not so much that you can clap your hands, ”Ignatiev told RT.

At the same time, the ex-coach of the national team was glad that the current position of the team allows it to count on a more favorable draw in the future.

“When you are in a higher basket, you set some direction.

You are no longer looking at someone, but at you.

The fact that we can be in the second basket is a positive result, because weaker opponents will be able to get into our group, ”Ignatiev added.

The specialist also noted that the Russian national team should not have problems in the autumn matches, since the team has already set a certain level, below which it no longer falls.

“Our team solves all those tasks that are within their power.

The national team, due to the mobilization and respect for the fans, is no longer inferior to all those who are on a par with it or below.

Unfortunately, due to objective reasons, it is not yet possible to win against the conditional Belgium, which is simply stronger than us.

We will remember the victory over Spain for a long time, but it is difficult to beat the teams of its class on a regular basis.

In the meantime, we need to support what we started with and try to change the situation for the better, ”said the ex-coach of the Russian national team.