17 July,2014 06:24 PM IST | | AFP
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
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.
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.
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 ten.
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.
