The world soccer governing body has dropped Colombia’s national soccer team three places, to eighth, on the international soccer rankings in the lead up the start of the World Cup in Brazil on June 13.
Colombia’s sequence of three straight draws in recent matches, including a recent 2-2 draw against Senegal and a 1-1 draw vs. Tunisia in March have dampened expectations about Colombia’s World Cup run.
Other factors, including the injury of superstar striker Radamel Falcao, who will miss the World Cup, have produced pessimism among fans of ‘Los Cafeteros,’ as the national team is know.
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Colombia now trails South American rivals Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Spain and Germany occupy the first and second spot overall, respectively.
The rankings means little for the World Cup other than providing optimism (or pessimism) to a team which has proven to be very successful. Colombia reached a record-high of third place July 2013, through a successful streak in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
MORE: Colombia fifth in world soccer rankings: FIFA
Colombia will play Jordan in a friendly on Friday June 6 in their last game before the beginning of the prestigious world tournament. Los Cafeteros will face Greece, Cote d’Ivoire and Japan in their Group C lineup, with their first match against Greece to be contested on June 14.