Albania shoots up in FIFA’s ranking

TIRANA, Nov. 23 – Albania’s national football team has had a good year in 2010, and it is looking forward to 2011 as it enters with a creditable third place in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group D behind France and Belarus.
A string of good performances in recent months has now had its expected impact on the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, where the team coached by Josip Kuze have made history by reaching 58th place.
That is the highest place Tirana has ever had in the list of all 208 FIFA-affiliated national teams since the World Ranking first appeared in August 1993.
This November’s improvement marks a new milestone in the nation’s football history.
Thirteen years ago, Albania sank to their all-time low, 124th place in August 1997.
Albania are third in their group and were undefeated until October’s 2-0 reverse away to Belarus. They previously beat Luxembourg and took a point apiece in 1-1 draws away to Romania and at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Taking 2010 as a whole, Albania have climbed 39 places in the World Ranking, from 97th up to 58th, which is also partly attributable to good performances in friendly matches.
Croatian coach Josip Kuze, who took the national helm in May 2009 from luckless Dutch boss Arie Haan, now has until the end of March next year to ready his team for the challenges ahead.