honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:33 a.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Soccer: Spain men No. 1 for 11th straight month; U.S. still No. 15

Associated Press

FIFA WORLD RANKINGS

ZURICH (AP) — The top 25 in FIFA's world rankings released Wednesday (previous month's ranking in parentheses):

1. Spain (1), 1,729 points.

2. Germany (2), 1,362.

3. Netherlands (3), 1,360.

4. Brazil (4), 1,281.

5. Italy (5), 1,271.

6. Argentina (6), 1,195.

7. England (7), 1,173.

8. Croatia (8), 1,151.

9. Russia (9), 1,117.

10. France (10), 1,074.

11. Portugal (11), 1,013.

12. Czech Republic (12), 968.

13. Greece (13), 927.

14. Turkey (14), 923.

15. United States (15), 919.

16. Uruguay (16), 909.

17. Paraguay (17), 906.

18. Switzerland (18), 883.

19. Cameroon (19), 871.

20. Bulgaria (20), 840.

21. Israel (21), 836.

22. Ukraine (22), 832.

23. Serbia (23), 819.

24. Scotland (24), 815.

25. Mexico (25), 803.

spacer spacer

ZURICH — European champion Spain remained atop the FIFA world rankings for the 11th straight month in the latest standings published Wednesday.

The top 25 nations remain unchanged after just 22 international matches were played in the past month, with 20 matches in the Asian confederation's Challenge Cup and two friendlies in Africa.

Euro 2008 finalist Germany stayed second, with the Netherlands in third, Brazil in fourth and world champion Italy fifth.

Argentina is sixth with European teams filling the rest of the top 10 — England, Croatia, Russia and France.

The United States is at No. 15, 10 places ahead of CONCACAF rival Mexico. Cameroon is 19th, the only African nation in the top 25.

Australia, at 32, leads the Asian confederation teams, while New Zealand, which rose one place to No. 78, is the best from Oceania.

Grenada climbed five places to a best-ever No. 103, while three nations made double-digit jumps. Sierra Leone was up 12 place to No. 98, No. 167 Pakistan rose 10 spots, and No. 168 Chinese Taipei climbed 12 places.