Spain retains First FIFA Ranking

MADRID - Spain back into the world's number one team.

It was not separated from their successful 2010 World Cup trophy embrace. Thanks to this success, La Furia Roja Spain-nickname-now perched at the top of FIFA rankings, released yesterday (14 / 7).

Displacing Spanish five-time world champion Brazil that previously occupied the prestigious position. Brazil-Samba-nickname became world number one team in the past year. Before that, Spanyollah located in the top position.

Spain memuncaki FIFA rankings in July 2008 after the Holy Grail of the Euro. That's the first time in the history of Spain became the world's number one team. That was also the first time the European team memuncaki FIFA ranking without winning the World Cup.

It was not separated from the exceptional performance of Spain. Their record unbeaten streak in 35 games. Matador also incised record winning streak in 15 games.

Spain lost its status as the FIFA rankings pemuncak in July 2009. This is related to the failure of Iker Casillas and colleagues at the stage of the Confederation Cup. Spain real start in the Confederations Cup action smoothly. They captured three victories in the group phase. That is, defeating New Zealand (5-0), Iraq (1-0), and South Africa (2-0). However, Spain defeated 0-2 by the United States in the semifinals.

After that, Brazil continues to lead in FIFA rankings. However, as with the victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup final in 2010, Spain went back to the top with 1883 points. The Netherlands followed in second with 1659 points. While Brazil dropped two straight to the third place with 1536 points.

"Spain will be at the top of the world football stage in the next four years," koar Casillas, the captain of Spain, quoted by the Associated Press.

Results of the 2010 World Cup really have an impact on the position of countries in FIFA's ranking list. Italy, for example, must be thrown from a series of ten large. World Cup champion in 2006 it dropped six straight to the 11th position. It was not separated from jebloknya-nicknamed the Azzurri's performance in Italy-World Cup in 2010. Status as defending champion, Fabio Cannavaro and colleagues failed to pass through the group phase.

France also slid. Les Bleus-French epithet, even not in the top 20 ranking by FIFA. World Cup winner in 1998 was thrown up into position-21.

If Italy and France decreased ratings, by contrast with New Zealand. They climbed 24 ranks to 50th position. This is the best position in the history of New Zealand. Although not escape the World Cup group phase in 2010, New Zealand better than the Italians by taking a draw in three games.

World Cup 2010 and the lead in FIFA rankings would be a great pride for Spain. On the other hand, the Spanish economy was seriously depressed. It forced the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero discouraged leaving for South Africa to support the direct Iker Casillas et al. Zapatero chose to concentrate solve domestic economic problems.

The success of Spanish make the public seems to forget the economic problems that trap. "They won the cup, and it's offerings to all the people of Spain," Zapatero said. (Ham/c2/ca)

---

FIFA Ranking the Big 20

Rank | States | Points | Confederations | Description

1 | Spain | 1883 | UEFA | Up (1)

2 | The Netherlands | 1659 | UEFA | Rise (2)

3 | Brazil | 1536 | CONMEBOL | Down (2)

4 | Germany | 1464 | UEFA | Rise (2)

5 | Argentina | 1289 | CONMEBOL | Rise (2)

6 | Uruguay | 1152 | CONMEBOL | Up (10)

7 | UK | 1125 | UEFA | Up (1)

8 | Portugal | 1062 | UEFA | Down (5)

9 | Egypt | 1053 | CAF | Up (3)

10 | Chile | 988 | CONMEBOL | Up (8)

11 | Italy | 982 | Uefa | Down (6)

12 | Greece | 975 | Uefa | Up (1)

13 | United States | 969 | CONCACAF | Up (1)

13 | Serbia | 969 | Uefa | Rise (2)

15 | Croatia | 968 | Uefa | Down 5)

16 | Paraguay | 961 | CONMEBOL | Up (15)

17 | Russia | 956 | Uefa | Down (6)

18 | Switzerland | 940 | Uefa | Up (6)

19 | Slovenia | 917 | Uefa | Up (6)

20 | Australian | 911 | AFC | Permanent