Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Australia remain Asia’s highest ranked women’s national team despite dropping to seventh position on the latest FIFA Women’s Ranking chart.
The Matildas, who were previously ranked fifth, won only one of five matches in the period since the global list was last updated, suffering a cruel penalty shootout elimination at the hands of Brazil at the quarter-final stage in Rio 2016.
A 6-1 win over Zimbabwe was their only victory in Brazil, in a stay that also included a draw against Germany, but only after a pre-tournament friendly loss to Brazil and a 2-0 defeat to Olympic surprise package Canada in the opening group stage fixture.
Elsewhere in Asia, there was little movement, with Japan – who failed to qualify for Rio 2016 - retaining Asia’s number two position despite slipping one place to eighth, and DPR Korea remaining at nine.
China, who also reached the Olympic quarter finals, fell one place to 13th while Korea Republic round out the Asian top five by holding their previous ranking of 19th.
One of Asia’s developing women’s football teams, Guam, were the biggest movers on the global list, rocketing 53 places up the chart to 80th.
The sharp rise came as a result of their 5-0 win over Macau in the EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) Women's East Asian Cup Preliminary Round.on June 29.
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images