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Brazil returns to top of FIFA Rankings

Wed 1st, July 2009

Nyon, Switzerland (Sports Network) - For the first time since August 2007, Brazil has returned to the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's rankings after winning the Confederations Cup, knocking European champions Spain (2nd, down 1) from the top spot.

The Netherlands (3rd, down 1), Italy (4th, unchanged) and Germany (5th, down 2) make up the rest of the top five respectively, while Russia (6th, up 3) is in its highest place since August 1997 after passing England (7th, down 1) and Argentina (8th, down 1).

A number of African teams made significant progress with the Ivory Coast (18th, up 20), Gabon (30th, up 18) and Algeria (47th, up 19) each doing well in World Cup qualifying, while Paraguay (22nd, down 9), Turkey (28th, down 16), Sweden (42nd, down 11) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (45th, down 12) suffered substantial drops.

The United States (12th, up 2) used its unlikely run to the final of the Confederations Cup to move up two places, while Costa Rica (30th, up 11) is now the second-highest ranked team in CONCACAF ahead of Mexico (33rd, down 7).

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's rankings will be published on Wednesday, August 5, 2009.