Germany’s charge to claim Sunday’s World Cup title has seen them return to the top of FIFA’s world rankings for the first time in about 20 years.
The latest list, published yesterday, has Germany moving up one place on the strength of their 1-0 defeat of Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Estadio Maracana.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third-place finish.
The James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia move up to fourth (+4), ahead of Belgium (+6) and Uruguay, while disappointing Brazil dropped four spots to seventh.
Deposed world champions Spain slumped seven spots to their new modest placing of eighth, with Switzerland and France (+7) completing the top 10.
Costa Rica’s remarkable charge to the quarter-finals was rewarded with a jump of 12 places to 16th.
England’s woeful first-round exit resulted in Roy Hodgson’s side plummeting down the ladder 10 places to 20th, their lowest ranking for 18 years.
The latest FIFA rankings:
1. Germany (+1)
2. Argentina (+3)
3. Netherlands (+12)
4. Colombia (+4)
5. Belgium (+6)
6. Uruguay (+1)
7. Brazil (-4)
8. Spain (-7)
9. Switzerland (-3)
10. France (+7)
11. Portugal (-7)
12. Chile (+2)
13. Greece (-1)
14. Italy (-5)
15. USA (-2)
16. Costa Rica (+12)
17. Croatia (+1)
18. Mexico (+2)
19. Bosnia and Hercegovina
(+2)
20. England (-10)
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