France climb to second in FIFA rankings

Europe stole a march on South America in June's FIFA world rankings list released on Wednesday, with France leapfrogging Brazil and Argentina to take second spot, while world champions Italy held onto first.

Back-to-back victories in Euro 2008 qualifiers this month buoyed both France and Germany, which rose to fourth in the table, its highest position in more than four years.

Breaking into the top 20 were the United States, Sweden, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Their fortunes contrasted with Turkey, Scotland, Russia and Mexico, all of which fell several places.

The biggest surge, albeit lower down the rankings, came from Armenia, which climbed 48 positions to 80th thanks to an upset victory over Poland.

FIFA said the rankings would likely be shaken up in coming months with the Copa America and more Euro 2008 qualifiers taken into account, while results from last year's World Cup diminishing in value.

FIFA's top 20 (last month's position in parentheses):
1-Italy (1)
2-France (4)
3-Brazil (2)
4-Germany (5)
5-Argentina (3)
6-Portugal (7)
7-Spain (9)
8-England (8)
9-Netherlands (6)
10-Czech Republic (10)
11-Croatia (12)
12-Romania (15)
13-Ukraine (11)
14-Cameroon (13)
15-Greece (16)
16-USA (29)
17-Sweden (22)
18-Poland (18)
19-Ghana (28)
20-Ivory Coast (25)