UAE national team slide drop a place in Fifa rankings

A 3-1 defeat to South Korea in 2014 World Cup qualifying, and a 2-1 friendly loss in China saw the UAE slip to 113th.

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ZURICH // The UAE national football team has fallen in the Fifa rankings for a second consecutive month, dropping one place in October.

A 3-1 defeat to South Korea in 2014 World Cup qualifying, and a 2-1 friendly loss in China saw the UAE slip to 113th.

The national side have had a turbulent month. Abdulla Misfir only took over the reins from Srecko Katanec, whose defeats in Group B of World Cup qualifying to Kuwait and Lebanon cost him his job, mid way though September.

The squad also had to deal with the death of Theyab Awana, the talented first-team midfielder, who died in a car accident last month.

All GCC nations have moved up the rankings. Qatar is now the leading GCC country in the Fifa rankings at 92, rising eight places. Kuwait is next at 96, climbing three places. Saudi Arabia is 98th and Bahrain is 101st. Oman move two places to 103.

Meanwhile, at the top, Spain extended their lead, as Euro 2012 group winners Greece and Denmark entered the top 10.

Spain won both their  qualifying matches this month while, Holland, who are second, lost one, to Sweden.

Germany and Uruguay stayed third and fourth, respectively. Brazil rose two places to No 5 followed by Italy and England.

Greece move three to share eighth place with Portugal.

Argentina, who lost a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela are tied for 10th with Denmark.

Japan is the leading Asian nation at No 17, and 19th-placed Ivory Coast is the best African country.

Mexico heads Concacaf members at No 22.