Georgia’s FIFA ranking from 9 years ago resurfaces after win vs Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, highlighting Indian football’s alarming lack of progress
Georgia's FIFA ranking from nine years ago has resurfaced after they earned a spectacular 2-0 win over Portugal at Euro 2024. The European minnows' ranking highlights Indian football's alarming lack of progress.
Georgia, who have reached the Round of 16 of Euro 2024, were ranked 154 in 2015, only two places ahead of the Blue Tigers (156). However, they have since made great progress and appeared at their first major tournament at Euro 2024.
They defied the odds by beating one of the consensus tournament favorites, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Willy Sagnol's team will now play Spain in the Round of 16 of the continental competition.
Georgia, currently 74th in the FIFA rankings, are the lowest-ranked team at Euro 2024. However, the Crusaders have shown they can put up a fight even against the best teams in the world.
India, meanwhile, haven't made much progress. They are currently the 124th-ranked team in the world. The Blue Tigers failed to qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. They played in both the 2019 and 2023 editions but were knocked out of the group stages on both occasions.
They won only one game out of six, a 4-1 triumph over Thailand in 2019. India have been blown away by any major nation they have faced in recent times. While there have been one or two sparks of promising performances, that hasn't been consistent.
India still lack a properly functioning system. Given the fandom of the beautiful game in the country, it's staggering how little progress they have made. Georgia's rise further highlights that it's not impossible to play at the top level with a proper structure in place.
Khvicha Kvarastkhelia shares beautiful moment with Cristiano Ronaldo after Georgia's win
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored Georgia's opening goal (2') in the 2-0 win over Portugal. The Napoli attacker managed a get a hold of Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt after the game.
A video surfaced on social media shows that Kvaratskhelia left his team's celebration and ran towards Ronaldo to share a moment with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner after the game.
Georgia are now set to play the biggest game in their history. They will take on Spain in the Round of 16 on Sunday, June 30.