FIFA

Spain Retain FIFA Top Spot

Spain retained the number one spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings after maintaining their good form, while England are back in the top ten thanks to an upturn in results...

Nov 12, 2008 2:00:46 PM

European champions Spain celebrating one of the four goals put past Armenia in yesterday's World Cup qualifier.

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European champions Spain celebrating one of the four goals put past Armenia in yesterday's World Cup qualifier.

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Spain

The latest FIFA rankings reveal some big climbs and huge falls in the last month, following the 134 international matches played in the last few weeks - but Vicente del Bosque's Spain have gone nowhere.

After winning the European Championship to move to the top of the pile in the summer, four wins from their first four World Cup qualifiers have seen the Spanish stay at the summit.

Germany swapped places with Italy as they moved up to second from third, while below them the Netherlands and Brazil also exchanged fourth and fifth places.

Fabio Capello's England team have begun their path to the World Cup Finals in 2010 impressively, and that has been reflected by a leap of four places up the ranks to 10th position.

The biggest climbers have been Switzerland, who leapt 18 places to 27th, Serbia who moved 10 places to 30th, Ecuador who moved up 11 spots to 31st and the Slovakians, who jumped 15 places to 45th.

Timor-Leste made history as their 2-2 draw with Cambodia saw them move to 198th position in the rankings, the first time that they have been off the bottom since becoming FIFA-affiliated in 2005.

1 Spain   1657
2 Germany   1413
3 Italy   1356
4 Netherlands   1306
5 Brazil 1286
6 Argentina   1181
7 Croatia   1158
8 Russia   1079
9 Czech Rep.   1062
10 Portugal   1058
10 England   1058

Lucas Brown, Goal.com