Story ProgressBack to home
Argentina tops FIFA rankings
Argentina returned to the top of soccer's world rankings on Wednesday, with World Cup champion Italy dropping two places to third.
Zurich:
Argentina returned to the top of soccer's world rankings on Wednesday, with World Cup champion Italy dropping two places to third.
Argentina climbed one spot after wins over Chile and Venezuela in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Brazil beat Ecuador 5-0 and drew at Colombia to also climb one place.
Italy played just one game in European Championship qualifying, although it did beat Georgia 2-0.
Its minor decline was because victories from previous years, especially its win against Ukraine in October 2006, are now worth fewer points.
Argentina has 1,533 points, 74 more than Brazil and 146 more than Italy.
France rose two places to fourth, while Germany dropped a spot to fifth despite securing its place at next year's European Championship.
Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic and Croatia rounded out the top 10, with England dropping two spots to No 11 after a 2-1 loss at Russia that put its qualification for Euro 2008 in doubt.
Russia was the biggest climber in the top 50, moving up 10 places to 16th - its best placing in 10 years.
Scotland rose to 13th, two places behind traditional rival England, for its highest position since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1993.
Mexico dropped two spots to 15th but was still three places above the United States, which stayed fixed at No 18.
Nigeria climbed four to 19th and stayed the highest ranked African team, while No 30 Japan was the best Asian team.
The next rankings are published November 23.
Argentina climbed one spot after wins over Chile and Venezuela in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Brazil beat Ecuador 5-0 and drew at Colombia to also climb one place.
Italy played just one game in European Championship qualifying, although it did beat Georgia 2-0.
Its minor decline was because victories from previous years, especially its win against Ukraine in October 2006, are now worth fewer points.
Argentina has 1,533 points, 74 more than Brazil and 146 more than Italy.
France rose two places to fourth, while Germany dropped a spot to fifth despite securing its place at next year's European Championship.
Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic and Croatia rounded out the top 10, with England dropping two spots to No 11 after a 2-1 loss at Russia that put its qualification for Euro 2008 in doubt.
Russia was the biggest climber in the top 50, moving up 10 places to 16th - its best placing in 10 years.
Scotland rose to 13th, two places behind traditional rival England, for its highest position since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1993.
Mexico dropped two spots to 15th but was still three places above the United States, which stayed fixed at No 18.
Nigeria climbed four to 19th and stayed the highest ranked African team, while No 30 Japan was the best Asian team.
The next rankings are published November 23.
Topics mentioned in this article
Football
Argentina