ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - European champion Spain remained No. 1 in FIFA's rankings Wednesday, followed by Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The United States dropped to No. 24, tops in its regional group.
England advanced to No. 10 among the world's soccer elite, moving up four places. Coach Fabio Capello's team fell from the top 10 in July after failing to qualify for the European Championship.
The Americans moved down three places to No. 24, with CONCACAF rival Mexico at No. 25.
Germany, which lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain, climbed one place to No. 2. World champion Italy dropped a place to No. 3 and the Netherlands rose one spot to No. 4. Brazil remained the best in South America despite falling to No. 5 while Argentina moved up a place to No. 6.
Euro 2008 semifinalist Russia was No. 8, its best ranking since 1997. Cameroon led African nations at No. 14, down two places. Israel was up one to No. 15, its best ranking.
Paraguay, which leads the South American World Cup qualifiers, jumped five places to No. 17. Australia tops the Asian confederation at No. 37, one ahead of Japan, which dropped six rungs.
Making double-digit advances were: No. 27 Switzerland, No. 30 Serbia, No. 31 Ecuador and No. 45 Slovakia. Jamaica vaulted 33 places to No. 86 after wins in World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Honduras.
The next rankings are Dec. 17. |