Punching above their weight: Netherlands and Hungary

While the USA still remain the top sporting nation in the world, and are set to claim the Global Cup title for the seventh year running,

there are old rivalries and some new faces in the top 10 of GSN’s unique ranking of the world’s sporting nations.

Germany, hot on the heels of their FIFA World Cup victory, are still holding on to second place, heading for their best-ever placement in the Global Cup… provided that Russia, who have always finished second behind the USA in GSN history, don’t catch up with them. Russia have won the August monthly ranking, thanks among other things to third place in the Women’s Volleyball Grand Prix, and they are closing in on Germany, the gap now being only 173 points.

 

Meanwhile two nations are also in best-ever position in the top ten:

a)      Canada are currently 4^th and set to improve on their 8^th position in the 2013 Global Cup

b)      the Netherlands are 5^th and enjoying a bumper year (their best-ever finish was 11^th in 2010) propelled by excellent team performances in the Women’s (1^st place) and Men’s (2^nd) Hockey World Cups, and the FIFA Football World Cup in Brazil (3^rd).

 

Behind them is China, who have never finished below 4^th (they were 2^nd in 2008) and are only 150 points behind the Dutch.

Other countries have been punching above their weight this year, and not just, as for example Argentina (currently 11^th),  because of their Football prowess. Norway are currently in 9^th place (they finished 16^th in 2013), while Hungary were 6^th in the August monthly ranking, ahead of the likes of Brazil, Great Britain or Canada, after winning the Canoe/Kayak Sprint World Championships.