France climb to second ahead of Brazil

While leaders Italy retain top spot 12 months on from the start of last year's World Cup in Germany, there were some big changes afoot in the latest FIFA rankings on the back of almost 120 matches in the past four weeks.

A pair of victories in the Euro 2008 qualifiers saw France climb to second place (up two) at the expense of Brazil (3rd, down one).

Argentina (5th, down two) fall two spots, while Germany bask in their highest position in more than four years (4th, up one).

With the Copa America, the fall in value of the results from last year's World Cup and crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers coming up, there are likely to be more changes in the top 10 in the not too distant future.

Further down the ranking, the US (16th, up 13), flying high again thanks to a successful start to their Gold Cup campaign, overhaul Mexico (26th, down six) for the time being as CONCACAF's top team.

Bosnia (28th, up 20) and Northern Ireland (29th, up 4) both record their highest placings since the rankings were introduced in 1993.

Morocco (35th, up 12) and Norway (36th, up 13) make eye-catching progress as a result of successes in continental qualifying tournaments, but even their achievements are overshadowed by Canada (56th, up 38) and, most notably, surprise package Armenia (80th, up 48).

Malta lost five places in the latest list following Euro 2008 defeats to Norway (4-0) and Bosnia (1-0). They are now 117th on 240 points, just above Tanzania on 239.

Malta is leading a host of UEFA minnows including Kazakhstan (119, -4), Estonia (121, -11), Liechtenstein (133, up 1), Andorra (157, up 4), Luxembourg (174, up 4), Faroe Islands (186, -1) and (San Marino 195, no change).

Meanwhile, while a further eight teams - the majority from Africa - climb more than ten places, newcomers Montenegro, who complete the ranking as FIFA's 208th member association, had an inauspicious introduction to the international game with close defeats to Japan and Colombia and therefore prop up the ranking still awaiting their first points.