Due to the Netherlands national team experiencing their 1st loss in 17 games the Oranje they have plummeted down to 15th place in the FIFA world rankings.
- By Harry Taylor
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The updated table was announced today on the 10th April on FIFA’s website, leading the rankings in first place is the Spanish national team and Germany and Portugal followed behind the Spanish in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Van Gaal’s side have fallen 4 places since it was last updated earlier this year. The fall in places comes down to a disappointing 2-0 loss away at the Stade De France in a commanding performance from Deschamps men.
This will be a big blow to the Dutch’s confidence as the team in which they expect to battle for 2nd place, Chile, has moved up to 14th position, one place ahead of the Dutch. Australia the other team set to face the Oranje in the group stages have managed to move up 4 places to 59th.
The rankings should not affect the sides performance heading into the World Cup, but the timing could not of came at a worse time for the Dutch outfit as they have since lost their talismanic midfielder Kevin Strootman and are going into a group considered the toughest, with reigning champions Spain and South American underdogs Chile all battling to proceed to the knock-out phases.
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