Updated FIFA World Rankings: Germany Soar To First, England Slump To New Low

Spain, Costa Rica, Portugal and the Netherlands are big movers.

The latest version of the FIFA World Rankings has been released.

World Cup games carry a lot of ranking points, so, as you can imagine, there have been a lot of changes after Brazil 2014.

It is not just the nations that competed at the World Cup that have moved in the rankings, though.

Northern Ireland are up one to 89th, Wales are down three to 44th, while Scotland and the Republic of Ireland remain 27th and 70th respectively.

20th England

The Three Lions, who failed to win a single game at the World Cup, slump 10 places to their lowest position since May 1996.

19th Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina are up two places, despite exiting in the group stage.

18th Mexico

Mexico are also up two places.

17th Croatia

Luka Modric are co rise from 16th.

16th Costa Rica

Unsurprisingly, Costa Rica, who reached the quarter-finals, are one of the major movers, shooting up 12 spots.

15th USA

Despite impressing a lot of people, the USMNT have slipped down from 13th.

14th Italy

Italy have fallen five spots, after losing to Costa Rica and Uruguay.

13rd Greece

Greece scraped through to the World Cup’s last 16, where they were beaten on penalties by Costa Rica. Nevertheless, the Euro 2004 champions move down one place.

12th Chile

Chile impressed at the World Cup, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal catching the eye. The South American side move up two spots.

11th Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo’s side plummet seven places following their group stage exit.

10th France

France lost to Germany in the quarter-finals, but they were in fine form in the earlier stages. As a result, they rise seven places from 17th

9th Switzerland

Switzerland slip back from sixth.

8th Spain

Spain were top of the table the last time the rankings were published. Their fall has certainly been the most dramatic.

7th Brazil

Brazil’s fall has been pretty dramatic too. They fall four places.

6th Uruguay

Uruguay are up one place, but they will struggle to maintain their new position without the suspended Luis Suarez.

5th Belgium

Belgium’s Red Devils shoot up six places.

4th Colombia

Colombia rise from eighth.

3rd Netherlands

The unbeaten semi-finalists rocket up 12 places.

2nd Argentina

Runners up Argentina rise from fifth.

1st Germany

Germany, who were second on the last list, return to the top of the rankings after winning their first World Cup since 1990.