FIFA World Rankings, September '09: Brazil Still No. 1

The summer lull for football was reflected in the latest World Rankings as published today by FIFA with there being no great movement of note.

With little more than a flurry of friendly internationals played in the last month all movements are due to the devaluation of points awarded for games played more than one year ago.

Brazil remains on top for the third consecutive month, still fresh from their Confederations Cup win this summer. Spain, however, has narrowed the gap between first and second in terms of points and could regain the top spot if Brazil were to slip up when they take on arch rivals Argentina in World Cup Qualifying in the coming week.

Argentina remains in eighth place despite beating Russia (sixth) in a friendly in Moscow last month.

Elsewhere in the top 10, Italy move up a place to share fourth spot with Germany.  Paraguay and Ukraine drop out of the top 20, replaced by Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Chile has climbed five places and now occupys 21st place.

Australia continue their rise, going up two places this month to 14th, a new record high for the Socceroos who this time last year were ranked 39th.

England remains seventh, with next week’s opponents Croatia two places behind in ninth.

The other home nations have seen little or no movement; Scotland is worst off, down six places to 31st now only one ahead of Northern Ireland (32nd, up one). Republic of Ireland have fallen one place to 38th whilst Wales are non-movers in 67th.

FIFA World Rankings, Top 20, September 2009

(movements from August rankings in parenthesis)

1.  Brazil (-)

2.  Spain (-)

3.  Holland (-)

4=  Italy (+1)

4= Germany (-)

6.  Russia (-)

7.  England (-)

8.  Argentina (-)

9.  Croatia (+1)

10. France (-1)

11. USA (+1)

12. Greece (-1)

13. Serbia (+1)

14. Australia (+2)

15. Switzerland (-2)

16. Denmark (-1)

17. Portugal (-)

18. Czech Republic (+4)

19. Bulgaria (+4)

20. Cote d’Ivoire (-2)