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The world ranking for the past year has revealed Spain as 2018’s best team
Following the release of the official ranking of the past year, Spain have been announced as 2018’s best team.
Various factors are considered when awarding and deducting points from teams in the world ranking, such as the amount of games and tournaments they compete in, as well as finishing positions.
Spain have had an exceptionally busy year compared to many other sides, including the Brazilians who take up second place in the 2018 standings.
La Roja made it to the final of the Bahamas Cup in April, missing out to Mexico in extra time. They got their revenge on Ramon Raya’s side two months later in the Mundialito in Almada, Portugal, just missing out on penalties against the hosts on the last day.
Spain went on to deliver a stellar performance throughout the Euro Beach Soccer League, winning 12 league games in a row against tough Division A competition, and remained unbeaten until Superfinal hosts Italy snatched the crown in the final after a tense penalty shootout.
Spain also competed in their first ever Intercontinental Cup in Dubai, finishing in a respectable sixth place.
However, in the overall world ranking Joaquin Alonso’s Spaniards sit in ninth, and the top spot is still occupied by Brazil, who have a buffer between them and their closest rivals Iran, who sit in second.
But that buffer has been reduced over the last year, and power is shifting as more countries join the fray and the level of beach soccer being played increases.
With 2019 set to be the busiest year the sport has ever seen, who knows what the world ranking will look like in 12 months’ time..?
