Spain drop out of top 10 Fifa rankings
Mar 12, 2015 11:23:44
The 2010 World Cup winners' disappointing results in 2014 have seen them replaced by Antonio Conte's Italy
European champions Spain have fallen out of the top 10 in Fifa's world rankings for the first time since 2007, with Italy taking their place.
Vicente Del Bosque's side are going through a transitional period having surrendered their World Cup in Brazil last year after exiting at the group stage.
Since then Spain have won three of their four Euro 2016 qualifying matches, but also suffered high-profile friendly defeats to France and Germany.
Joachim Low's men continue to lead the way ahead ahead of Argentina (second), Colombia (third), Belgium (fourth), Netherlands (fifth), Brazil (sixth), Portugal (seventh), France (eighth), Uruguay (ninth) and Italy (10th).
Antonio Conte's men return to the top 10 for the first time since June 2014, meaning Spain drop down to 11th and Switzerland to 12th.
The changes in the top 10 are a direct result of a devaluation of past results.
Lower down the order, Northern Ireland climb eight places to 43rd as they re-enter the top 50.
However, the biggest climbers of the month are Barbados (131st) and Bermuda (169th), both of whom have risen by 11 places by virtue of a win and a draw each.
