Argentina have dislodged Germany from second place in the FIFA rankings but they are way behind long-time leaders Spain who have extended their advantage.
The 185 matches played in the past month have certainly left their mark on the latest classification.
In the top 10, only Spain’s ranking remains unchanged, and the world and European champions have managed to further extend their lead at the summit, where they have reigned since September 2011.
However, there has been a big shake-up just below pole position, where Argentina have ousted Germany out of second place after successfully qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
Uruguay (7th, up 5) are also among this month’s climbers, making it back into the top 10 at the expense of Portugal (11th, down 4). There are currently four South American teams in the top 10.
Belgium continue to rise up the global ladder. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their Brazil 2014 qualifying campaign and, with their current ranking of sixth, have once more reached their best-ever position.
England have dropped three places to 17th. It is their lowest position since 2001 when they also occupied 17th place following a dismal run under Kevin Keegan that ended with the subsequent improvement under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
There have been many changes, not just in the upper echelons of the rankings, which have mainly been caused by the 86 World Cup qualifiers played in all of the confederations except the OFC over the past month.
Of the 820 total preliminary matches leading to Brazil, 747 have unfolded, and nine teams – Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, Italy, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, United States and Argentina – have secured places at the tournament alongside the host nation.
Malta lost eight places on this month’s list after suffering identical 2-1 defeats to Denmark and Bulgaria in their last two World Cup Group B qualifiers, both played at home.
Pietro Ghedin’s team were lauded for their bold performances but their failure to take something from the two games saw them slip to 142nd in the FIFA rankings on 199 points.
Top 20 positions
1. Spain 1,514; 2. Argentina 1,263; 3. Germany 1,261; 4. Italy 1,199; 5. Colombia 1,180; 6. Belgium 1,159; 7. Uruguay 1,126; 8. Brazil 1,067; 9. Netherlands 1,058; 10. Croatia 1,051; 11. Portugal 1,029; 12. Greece 1,016; 13. US 996; 14. Switzerland 992; 15. Russia 968; 16. Chile 967; 17. England 947; 18. Bosnia 934; 19; Ivory Coast 902; 20. Ecuador 851.