ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Just hours before the start of the largest World Cup ever (with 48 teams for the first time), FIFA has updated its national team rankings. Reigning world champions Argentina have moved up two spots and regained their lead after a year, overtaking France, who suffered a friendly defeat against Ivory Coast and lost the top spot, slipping to third place behind Spain, who remain second. It’s worth noting that Morocco has moved up one spot to seventh place (their best ever), overtaking the Netherlands, who are now eighth. Completing the top ten are England (4th), Portugal (5th), Brazil (6th), Belgium (9th), and Germany (10th). Italy remains 12th (behind 11th-place Croatia), despite victories in friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece under interim coach Silvio Baldini. Mexico (14th, +1) and Uruguay (16th, +1) made gains, while Iran entered the top 20 (20th, +1) and Senegal (15th, -1) and the United States (17th, -1) dropped positions. The biggest jumps forward within the top 100 were seen in Hungary (39th +3), Chile (51st +3), and China (91st +3), while the biggest drops were seen in Serbia (41st, -4), Mali (55th, -3), and Benin (93rd, -3).
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
