Kenya drop one place in latest FIFA rankings

The national team Harambee Stars climbed one placed down to position 112 in the latest rankings published by World football governing body, FIFA.

The drop comes on the back of a flurry of friendly matches that saw the Stars win two and lose an equal number of matches during a busy span of 10 days.

Stars lost 1-0 to Swaziland, defeated Equatorial Guinea and New Zealand by 1-0 and 2-1 respectively before slumping to a 3-0 defeat to India between May 25 and June 4.

Defending World Cup champions Germany will have the psychological advantage of going to the 2018 finals in Russia sitting atop of the global standings.

The Germans are in good shape heading to Russia after their talismanic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a key player in their 2014 victory, returned to action after a long absence through injury.

Neymar’s on-form five-time World Cup winners Brazil are second, multi-talented Belgium are third, Cristiano Ronaldo’s European champions Portugal fourth and Lionel Messi’s Argentina are fifth.

British bookmakers would agree with the top two as they make Germany and Brazil joint World Cup favourites at odds of five to one followed by Spain, France and Argentina.

World Cup host nation Russia meanwhile slide to 70th position after a seven-game winless streak. They kick off the tournament against Saudi Arabia on June 14.

Standings June 7:

1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Belgium
4. Portugal
5. Argentina
6. Switzerland
7. France
8. Poland (+2)
9. Chile
10. Spain (-2)
11. Peru

=12. Denmark, England (+1)

14. Uruguay (+3)
15. Mexico
16. Colombia
17. Netherlands (+2)
18. Wales (+3)
19. Italy (+1)
20. Croatia (-2)
21. Tunisia (-7)
22. Iceland
23. Costa Rica (+2)
24. Sweden (-1)
25. United States (-1)

Selected

112. Kenya (-1)
113. Senegal (+1)
114. Serbia (+1)
115. Australia (+4)
116. Iran (-1)
117. Morocco (+1)
118. Egypt (+1)
119. Nigeria (-1)
120. Panama
121. South Korea (+4)
122. Japan (-1)
123. Saudi Arabia (0)
124. Russia (-4)