Tiny Solomon Islands now ranked ahead of Hong Kong in latest Fifa men’s rankings
- Mixu Paatelainen’s charges have slipped four places in the table after an underwhelming start to their Asian World Cup qualifying campaign
- Hong Kong have a chance to improve their ranking but face a huge task against Iraq away in their next match
Tiny Solomon Islands have overtaken Hong Kong in the latest Fifa world rankings as Mixu Paatelainen’s charges slipped four places in the latest standings.
A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable that the South Pacific nation, with a population (667,044) less than one-tenth of Hong Kong would be ranked higher. But the world governing body confirmed the surprise move, with the Solomon Islands now in 141st place after being ranked just behind Hong Kong in the July ranking list. The local representative side are ranked 143rd, while Suriname occupy 142nd place.
Hong Kong are in danger of slipping further down the list with minnows Burundi, Myanmar and Afghanistan all looking a threat to surpass the local side in the table.
Hong Kong have failed to notch a win in their last three internationals, drawing 1-1 with Cambodia in their opening Fifa Asian World Cup qualifier before losing to Asia’s number one ranked team, Iran, 2-0 on September 10.
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Hong Kong also lost 2-0 to Taiwan in a friendly international played at Mong Kok Stadium in June, which marked new coach Paatelainen’s first match in charge.
Hong Kong’s highest world ranking was achieved in 1994 when we reached No 98. The team have several opportunities to improve their ranking. They first travel to Iraq for their third World Cup qualifying game on October 10, they then play hosts to Malaysia in an international friendly five days later.
Hong Kong striker Giovane da Silva, meanwhile, has been called up to the preliminary 33-member squad for the two games.
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The R&F forward had failed to catch the eye of Paatelainen but the Brazilian-born forward will have a chance to prove his worth in Hong Kong’s next two games, adding firing power to the team
Also making the squad is promising striker Chan Kwong-ho of Southern. Paatelainen will announce his final 23-man squad on October 6 – two days before they fly out for their World Cup match in Basra, southern Iraq.
There was no change at the top of the Fifa world ranking list with Belgium ranked first ahead of France, Brazil and England with Portugal in fifth place.
