Italy drop out of world's top 10
Reuters - Wednesday 14 July 2010, 10:04
LONDON - World champions Spain returned
to the top of the FIFA rankings on Wednesday while Brazil
dropped to third place and Italy slumped to 11th.
World Cup finalists the Netherlands also leapfrogged Brazil
for second, a rise of two places, while England surprisingly
moved up a rung to seventh despite a disappointing tournament
in South Africa.
Semi-finalists Uruguay were big gainers, up 10 places to
sixth, while 1998 champions France capped a pitiful performance
by slipping 12 to 21st.
Ageing Italy, the 2006 World Cup
winners, dropped six slots.
Germany and Argentina both moved up two places to fourth
and fifth respectively.
New Zealand were the biggest movers up the rankings, rising
24 places to 54th after going unbeaten in their three group
matches at the World Cup.
World Cup hosts South Africa rose 17 places to 66th.
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