European champions Spain were unsurprisingly recognised as the top-ranked team of the year yesterday after winning every match they played in 2008.

The publication of FIFA's December rankings saw Spain stretch their lead at the top over second-placed Germany, the team they beat to win the Euro 2008 final.

The only match of the year in which Spain failed to register the maximum number of ranking points was their Euro 2008 quarter-final against Italy which ended 0-0 after extra time before Spain won on penalties.

The Netherlands, who like Spain and eighth-placed England, have made a perfect start to their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, climbed above Italy to finish the year in third place.

Brazil are the highest-placed non-European team, in fifth, their lowest ever year-end position. In every previous year since the introduction of the rankings in 1992, Brazil have managed to finish in the top three, including 12 top-place rankings.

Montenegro, not wholly unexpectedly, amassed 245 points and rose a spectacular 60 places, more than any other team. They are now ranked 112th.

Among the year's other big climbers are Russia (up 242 points and 14 places to 9th) and Burkina Faso (up 229 points and 51 places to 62nd).

Considered over the course of the year, Asia, South America and CONCACAF each gained a team in the top 50, while Europe lost three.

Turkey (10th, up 3) have regained a top-10 placing at the expense of the Czech Republic and Portugal.

By mid-December 2008, 1,040 international matches had been played.

Meanwhile, Malta moved up three places in this month's list and are now placed 147th. The national team have 151 points and trail Tajikistan (146th) by 11 points.

FIFA rankings

(last month's position in brackets)

1. (1) Spain - 1,663
2. (2) Germany - 1,381
3. (4) Netherlands - 1,338
4. (3) Italy - 1,326
5. (5) Brazil - 1,246
6. (6) Argentina - 1,180
7. (7) Croatia - 1,142
8. (10) England - 1,115
9. (8) Russia - 1,103
10. (13) Turkey - 1,016
11. (12) France - 1,007
11. (10) Portugal - 1,007
11. (9) Czech Republic - 1,007
14. (14) Cameroon - 989
15. (20) Ukraine - 909
16. (21) Egypt - 894
17. (17) Paraguay - 889
18. (15) Israel - 877
19. (22) Nigeria - 876

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