FIFA changes ranking system, Chhetri wants tougher warm-up
NEWDELHI: A day after FIFA overhauled its ranking system to limit manipulation by teams to maintain ranking points, India football captain Sunil Chhetri called for more games against tougher teams.
Speaking on 2019 Asian Cup, Chhetri, who scored a brace in 97th ranked India’s Intercontinental Cup final win over No. 112 Kenya, said India needed to play tougher teams in the lead up to the January 5- February 1 tournament in UAE.
“We should play as many games as possible. If I may say so, our away record has been poor. We can’t invite the better ranked teams at home.
“But I believe we should play stronger opponents in away games to be among the top 10 in Asia,” Chhetri said, on the sidelines of announcing 2018 World Cup official match ball carriers from India, in association with FIFA and Kia Motors.
India have been grouped alongside hosts UAE, Thailand and Bahrain in the Asian Cup.
NEW FIFA SYSTEM
The existing FIFA system uses annual average points to determine ranking. So, if a team refrains from playing after a string of favourable results, their average point may be more than those playing more games.
It will help them hold their rank or even improve even without playing. The new system, a modified ELO rating, adds or subtracts points (as opposed to averaging points) for individual matches to/from a team’s existing point total.
According to FIFA, in the new system the points added or subtracted are partially determined by the relative strength of the two opponents, including the logical expectation that teams higher in the ranking should fare better against teams lower in the ranking.
MESSI COMPARISON
Chhetri, who scored his 64th international goal against Kenya to equal Lionel Messi’s record, said there should be no comparison with the Argentina great. Chhetri is now only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (81 goals) among active international players in terms of goals.
“There is absolutely no comparison. I have seen the graphics on me getting same number of goals as Messi. One should just watch those memes, be happy and forget about it,” he said. “In my mind, the first goal is to get inside Asia’s top 10.”
SAFF FOOTBALL IN BANGLADESH
India, the seven-time South Asian Football Federation Championship winners, have been clubbed with Maldives and Sri Lanka in group B in this year’s tournament to be played in Bangladesh from September 4. Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan comprise group A. Matches can be seen live on Dsport.