NEW PLYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 01: Gabriel Jesus #10 of Brazil celebrates after he scores the first goal of the game during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Group E match between Nigeria and Brazil held at Stadium Taranaki on June 1, 2015 in New Plymouth, New Zealand. (Photo by FIFA
Captained by the Paris Saint Germain striker Neymar Brazil have knocked Germany off the top of the FIFA rankings released on Thursday.
Brazil’s defender David Luiz (R) is consoled by Brazil’s defender and captain Thiago Silva after losing the semi-final football match between Brazil and Germany at The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte on July 8, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS
World champions Germany dropped to second despite winning the Confederations Cup last month after some rolling historical results were devalued.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are in third and modest Switzerland, with a 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifiers, are fourth, which is higher than they have been since 1994.
Poland, who boast Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski amongst their ranks, are at a historic high of fifth having dropped just two points in their own qualifiers as European champions Portugal dropped two places to fifth.
FIFA standings as of August 10:
1. Brazil (+1)
2. Germany (-1)
3. Argentina
4. Switzerland (+1)
5. Poland (+1)
6. Portugal (-2)
7. Chile
8. Colombia
9. Belgium (+1)
10. France (-1)
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.