Dutch topple Spanish in FIFA rankings
Malta moves up to 167 after victory over Central African Republic.
Michael Mifsud was the key to victory over the Central African Republic.
The Netherlands took top spot at the expense of world and European champions Spain in the latest FIFA rankings released today.
Spain had held the position for over a year but a 2-1 friendly loss to Italy ensured the Dutch, World Cup runners-up, become the seventh team to occupy the top spot since rankings were created after Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Copa America winners Uruguay, World Cup semi-finalists, become the top South American team in fifth as Brazil, who were beaten 3-2 by Germany in a friendly this month, dropping two places to sixth.
Germany stay third and England move up to fourth, while the make-up of the top 10 remains the same, with Italy, Portugal, Argentina and Croatia the other sides.
Malta's rank is 167, up six ranks. It is immedately after Curacao. Malta's ranking was boosted by the 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic in a home friendly.
FIFA world ranking released today (change in brackets):
1. Netherlands (+1)
2. Spain (-1)
3. Germany
4. England (+2)
5. Uruguay
6. Brazil (-2)
7. Italy (+1)
8. Portugal (-1)
9. Argentina (+1)
10. Croatia (-1)
11. Chile
12. Norway
13. Russia (+5)
14. Greece (-1)
15. Ivory Coast (-1)
. France
. Japan (+1)
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Mr Peter Korsten
Aug 24th 2011, 21:32
If I weren't Dutch, I'd support Uruguay. A country of only 3.5 million people, 5th on the FIFA ranking and the best Latin American team.