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.
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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 German team. File Pic/AFP
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.