By Matt S, Bleacher Report
Brazil have ended Spain’s five-month reign at the top of the FIFA World Rankings to become the top ranked side in the May 2010 rankings released by FIFA last week.
A Seleção now top the rankings for the seventh time in the history of the rankings, Dunga’s side replacing the European Champions at the summit of world football.
Portugal’s rise continues with Carlos Queiroz’s side now up to third, their highest ever position since the launch of the rankings in 1993. They switch places with the Netherlands, who had held third spot for nine consecutive months.
Other movement in the Top 10 sees Argentina move up to seventh, with England down to eighth.
Croatia are up to ninth, and remain the highest-ranked team not to have qualified for next month’s World Cup.
Other non-qualifiers Egypt remain Africa’s top-ranked side at 13, and the continent now has three representatives in the Top 20 with Nigeria joining Cameroon alongside the African champions.
Switzerland (down six to 26) are the only nation to drop out of the Top 20.
World Cup host nation South Africa fall two positions to 90, their worst ranking for over 16 years.
Meanwhile North Korea remain the lowest ranked team to have qualified for next month’s World Cup, down one place this month to 106.
Republic of Ireland move up one place to 43, one spot ahead of Scotland, who slide three places to 44. Northern Ireland are down seven to 57, whilst Wales are up two places to 75.
Very few matches were played last month so all positional changes are the result of the devaluation of points for past results.
The next rankings will be released on May 26 after many nations will have played their warm-up games for the upcoming World Cup, so more movement can be expected then.
FIFA World Rankings, Top 20, May 2010
(movements from April rankings in parenthesis)
1. Brazil (+1)
2. Spain (-1)
3. Portugal (+1)
4. Netherlands (-1)
5. Italy (-)
6. Germany (-)
7. Argentina (+2)
8. England (-1)
9. Croatia (+1)
10. France (-2)
11. Russia (+1)
12. Greece (-1)
13. Egypt (+1)
14. USA (+2)
15. Chile (-2)
16. Serbia (-1)
17. Mexico (-)
18. Uruguay (-)
19. Cameroon (+1)
20= Nigeria (+2)
20= Australia (-1)
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