European champion Spain continued its reign as world's top-ranked national team in the latest FIFA rankings published yesterday.

Germany, which lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain, climbed one place to second, while England returned to the world's top 10.

World champion Italy dropped a place to third and the Netherlands rose one to fourth. Brazil remained the best South American nation despite falling to fifth while Argentina moved up a place to sixth.

Euro 2008 semifinalist Russia climbed again and was now eighth, its best ranking since 1997.

England moved up four places to share 10th place with Portugal. Coach Fabio Capello's team fell out of the top ten in July after missing the Euro finals.

Cameroon was the leader among African nations in 14th, down two places. Israel was up one to a best-ever 15th.

Paraguay, which leads the South American World Cup qualifiers leapt up five places to 17th.

The United States is the top CONCACAF nation, one above rival Mexico, despite dropping three places at 24th.

Australia leads the Asian confederation at No.37, one ahead of Japan which dropped six rungs.

Among the big improvers in the new rankings were Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland, which was up 18 places to 27th, while Serbia (30), Ecuador (31) and Slovakia (45) also had double-digit rises. Jamaica jumped 33 places to 86th after wins in World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Honduras.

Highest-ever positions were achieved by the relatively new national team of Montenegro, now 115th, and 157th-ranked Philippines.

A total of 134 matches counted toward the rankings. The next standings are published Dec. 17.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily November 13, 2008)