Germany return to top of FIFA’s rankings for the first time in 20yrs, as Nigeria Move to 34th! [SEE FULL LIST]

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.
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 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 dropping ten places to
20th.
Latest FIFA rankings
1. Germany (+1)
2. Argentina (+3)
3. Netherlands (+12)
4. Colombia (+4)
5. Belgium (+6)
6. Uruguay (+1)
7. Brazil (-4)
8. Spain (-7)
9. Switzerland (-3)
10. France (+7)
11. Portugal (-7)
12. Chile (+2)
13. Greece (-1)
14. Italy (-5)
15. USA (-2)
16. Costa Rica (+12)
17. Croatia (+1)
18. Mexico (+2)
19. Bosnia and Hercegovina (+2)
20. England (-10)
The Super Eagles’ performance and eventual
qualification for the Round of 16 at the just-
concluded World Cup in Brazil has impacted
on the July FIFA ranking as Nigeria now
occupies the 34th position.
In the rankings table released by the world
football governing body on Thursday, Nigeria
garnered 660 points and moved up 10 spots
as against June’s 631 points at 44th position.
Although Nigeria may not have been too
convincing at the 2014 World Cup, their
performance is still good enough to earn
them a lift.
The African champions now place third in
Africa behind Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
Algeria who is now ranked Africa’s best team
has 874 points to occupy the 24th position in
the world, while Cote d’Ivoire has 850 points
for 25th place in the world.
However, another African representative at
the World Cup, Ghana, slipped down by one
spot to 38th in the world and fifth in Africa,
behind Egypt who remained static with 645
points.
According to the world governing body, the
results of 111 international “A” matches have
been taken into account for the current
edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
“Sixty-four out of these matches were played
at the World Cup in Brazil, 46 were friendlies
and one was a CONCACAF continental
qualifier.
“The total number of international “A”
matches taken into account so far this year is
now 362,’’ the FIFA Media Office said in a
statement.