Germany return to top of Fifa’s rankings, UAE up to 65th

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third place finish.

Germany won their fourth World Cup.
Powered by automated translation

PARIS // Germany’s charge to claim Sunday’s World Cup title has seen them return to the top of Fifa’s world rankings for the first time in around 20 years.

The latest list, published on Thursday, has Germany moving up one place on the strength of their 1-0 defeat of Argentina ar Rio de Janeiro's Maracana.

The UAE, meanwhile, moved seven places to No 65 in the table, one place below Sierra Leone and one above South Africa.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third place finish.

The James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia move up to fourth (+4), ahead of Belgium (+6) and Uruguay while disappointing Brazil dropped four spots to seventh.

Deposed world champions Spain slumped seven spots to their new modest placing of eighth, with Switzerland and France (+7) completing the top 10.

Costa Rica’s remarkable charge to the quarter-finals was rewarded with a jump of 12 places to 16th.

England’s woeful first round exit resulted in Roy Hodgson’s side plummeting down the ladder ten places to 20th, their lowest ranking for 18 years.

sports@thenational.ae

Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE