FIFA World Rankings, April 2009: France Return to Top 10

FIFA published their world rankings for April 2009 today, which take into account the recent results in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Spain remain the top-ranked side for the 10th consecutive month after home and away victories over Turkey, with Germany and Netherlands remaining in second and third places respectively.

Brazil switch places with Italy, moving into fourth after they secured a fortunate draw in Ecuador before defeating Peru, while Italy won in Montenegro before being held to a home draw by the Republic of Ireland.

France move back into the top 10 after two 1-0 wins over Lithuania. They replace Portugal, who drop to 11th as their World Cup Qualifying campaign continues to stutter, following a home draw with Sweden.

Uruguay, Switzerland, and Bulgaria move into the Top 20 after impressive results as Israel, Ukraine, and Romania slide down the rankings.

Togo are the biggest movers overall, up to 65, a jump of 26 places, after they got off to an impressive start to the final qualifying stage in the African section. Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor scored the only goal as they defeated Cameroon, Africa’s top-ranked side.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were also big movers, climbing 20 places into 38^th place after beating Belgium home and away, as they moved into second place in Group 5 behind European Champions Spain.

The home nations again have mixed fortunes. England move up two places to seventh after back-to-back wins at Wembley against Slovakia and Ukraine. This is the Three Lions’ highest ranking in just over two years.

Scotland move up four places to 24^th and Northern Ireland leap fifteen places to 27^th after home wins over Poland and Slovenia. This equals Northern Ireland’s previous highest ever ranking, which they achieved in August 2007.

Republic of Ireland, however, slip below their neighbours, down eight places to 34^th.  Wales also drop down the rankings after two home defeats, sliding five places to 73^rd.

FIFA World Rankings, Top 20, April 2009

(movements from March rankings in parenthesis)

1.  Spain (-)

2.  Germany (-)

3.  Netherlands (-)

4.  Brazil (+1)

5.  Italy (-1)

6.  Argentina (-)

7.  England (+2)

8.  Croatia (-1)

9.  Russia (-1)

10. France (+2)

11. Portugal (-1)

12. Czech Republic (+1)

13. Greece (+6)

14. Turkey (-3)

15. USA (+2)

16. Uruguay (+5)

17. Paraguay (-2)

18. Switzerland (+4)

19. Cameroon (-3)

20. Bulgaria (+7)