Victory against Brazil helps England leapfrog Italy into fourth place of World Rankings.
Roy Hodgson’s England side climbed two places to fourth in the latest FIFA monthly rankings released by world football’s governing body on Thursday.
England moved above Euro 2012 finalists Italy and Colombia following their 2-1 win over five-time World Cup winners Brazil last week, with two-time defending European and reigning world champions Spain still top ahead of Germany and Argentina.
Portugal and Croatia were the only other nations to move up a spot inside the top 10, while Ivory Coast rose to their highest-ever ranking of 12th despite a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.
AFCON winners Nigeria shot up 22 places to 30th, while the tournament’s runners-up Burkina Faso went from 92nd to 55th.
FIFA world rankings:
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. England (+2 places)
5. Italy (-1)
6. Colombia (-1)
= Portugal (+1)
8. Netherlands
9. Croatia (+1)
10. Russia (-1)
11. Greece
12. Ivory Coast (+2)
= Ecuador
14. Switzerland (-1)
15. Mexico
16. Uruguay
17. France
18. Brazil
19. Ghana (+7)
20. Belgium
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