Soccer: Spain stays top of FIFA world rankings: U.S. No. 20 | The Honolulu Advertiser

Soccer: Spain stays top of FIFA world rankings: U.S. No. 20 | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Updated at 3:46 a.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Soccer: Spain stays top of FIFA world rankings: U.S. No. 20

Associated Press

FIFA TOP 25

ZURICH (AP) — The top 25 in FIFA's world rankings released Wednesday (previous month's ranking in parentheses):

1. Spain (1), 1,693 points.

2. Germany (2), 1,403.

3. Netherlands (3), 1,357.

4. Italy (4), 1,318.

5. Brazil (5), 1,248.

6. Argentina (6), 1,181.

7. Croatia (7), 1,175.

8. England (8), 1,136.

9. Russia (9), 1,119.

10. Turkey (10), 1,040.

11. France (11), 1,026.

12. Portugal (11), 1,020.

(tie) Czech Republic (11), 1,020.

14. Ukraine (16), 932.

15. Paraguay (18), 923.

16. Cameroon (14), 900.

17. Romania (21), 880.

18. Israel (19), 877.

19. Greece (20), 864.

20. United States (22), 858.

21. Switzerland (24), 857.

22. Uruguay (23), 849.

23. Nigeria (17), 827.

24. Mexico (26), 791.

25. Sweden (31), 780.

ZURICH — European champion Spain stayed top of FIFA's world rankings published Wednesday and there was no change among the world's top 10 teams.

European rivals Germany, Netherlands and Italy followed, with Brazil completing the top 5.

Brazil beat defending World Cup winner Italy 2-0 Tuesday night in London — a result that will only be accounted for in next month's updated rankings.

Argentina, Croatia, England, Russia and Turkey round out the top 10.

Romania gained four places to break into the top 20 at No. 17.

Nicaragua, which finished fifth in Central America's CONCAF Nations Cup, was the biggest climber. It jumped 50 spots to No. 132.

Panama, which won the CONCAF Nations Cup on penalties, rose 33 spots to 50th. Runner-up Costa Rica gained nine places and is now ranked 38th.

Football minnows Cuba and Zambia both fell 16 spots.