World Cup winners Spain replaced Brazil at the top of the most recent FIFA world rankings released yesterday.

Vicente Del Bosque’s side climbed one place to the top of the rankings after beating the Netherlands 1-0 after extra-time in Sunday’s final in Johannesburg. The beaten finalists moved up one place to second, with quarter-finalists Brazil falling to third.

Uruguay were the biggest climbers in the top 10, rising 10 places to sixth – their highest ever ranking – after their unexpected run to the semi-finals.

Fellow South Americans Paraguay climbed 15 places to 16th, while Japan’s success in reaching the last 16 took them up 13 places to 32nd.

New Zealand enjoyed the most significant rise, going up 24 places to 54th after finishing their World Cup campaign unbeaten in spite of the fact they were knocked out at the group stage.

England rose one place to seventh despite crashing out to Germany in the second round, but there was no such good fortune for fellow under-achievers Italy and France.

Defending champions Italy dropped six places to 11th after they were eliminated in the group phase, while France plunged 12 places to 21st following their disastrous campaign.

Malta rose five places to no.152 in the world rankings.

The only two UEFA members behind Malta are Andorra (201) and San Marino (202).

Top 10: 1. Spain (+1); 2. Netherlands (+2); 3. Brazil (-3); 4. Germany (+2); 5. Argentina (+2); 6. Uruguay (+10); 7. England (+1); 8. Portugal (-5); 9. Egypt (+3); 10. Chile (+8).

Selected: 11. Italy (-6); 13. United States (+1); 16. Paraguay (+15); 21. France (-12); 32. Japan (+13); 40. Cameroon (-21); 54. New Zealand (+24); 152. Malta (+5).