FIFA World Rankings: Argentina and Belgium Remain 1st and 2nd; France Return to Top 20

Published on: 01 June 2016

"?Argentina and Belgium remain first and second respectively, in the latest FIFA World Rankings, the last to be released before the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016 begin in the coming days.

 

Belgium had risen to the top in 2015 after qualifying for the European Championships in style, but Argentina, World Cup finalists in 2014, rose back to the number one spot in 2016 and have remained there since.

 

Chile have fallen two places to fifth since the May rankings last month, while Colombia and Germany have risen a place each to third and fourth respectively.

 

Spain (6th), Brazil (7th), Portugal (8th) and Uruguay (9th) are all non-movers, while Austria have broken into the top ten at the expense of England, who fall a single place to 11th.

 

Italy have risen by three places to 12th, a good boost ahead of the Euros, as have the Netherlands to 14th, but the Oranje won't be competing in France after a terrible qualifying campaign saw them miss out.

 

After a long time languishing outside the top 20, not helped by a total lack of competitive games since the last World Cup, France have climbed four place to 17th. Didier Deschamps' talented squad are the favourites for Euro glory.

 

Slovakia are another big European climber, jumping eight places from 32nd to 24th, but Turkey (18th), Hungary (20th), Romania (22nd), Wales (26th) and Croatia (27th) have all fallen by two or more places.

 

The biggest risers anywhere in the world are Madagascar after leaping into 108th place from 127th. Rwanda, meanwhile, are the biggest global fallers, dropping 16 places and out of the top 100 into 103rd.

 

FIFA Top 30 (June 2016):

 

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