Italy rise to second in FIFA rankings

World Cup winners Italy have soared 11 places to second in the latest FIFA rankings although 2002 champions Brazil held on to top spot despite losing in the quarter-finals in Germany.

France, beaten on penalties by Italy in Sunday's final, rose four places to fourth while Argentina, knocked out in the quarter-finals, are up six places in third.

Germany were also big movers, rising 10 places to ninth - their first top 10 placing for more than two years - after reaching the semi-finals.

The first post-World Cup rankings were based on new criteria with more consideration taken on the importance of the match and the strength of opponents.

The previous ranking system had long been criticised and was not helped by the first-round exits of the then second-ranked Czech Republic and fifth-rated United States in Germany.

Besides the effect of the World Cup matches, the change in the evaluation period has also led to a major shift. Now only the last four years (48 months) count, with each year weighted differently.

Malta at no.122

The new modifications in the ranking system saw Malta climbing three places from the previous position. The national team is now placed at no.122, ahead of Haiti (no.123) and nearest UEFA minnows Liechtenstein (no.124).

Andorra are 131st and Kazakhstan lost five places at no.140.

The Faroe Islands and San Marino lost a staggering 30 positions each and slipped to no.169 and no.191 respectively.

Luxembourg (minus 42) are the worst-positioned UEFA members in the reckoning, at no.194. The tail-enders in the all-confederations list are Montserrat - no.196.