Spain leads rankings, Brazil touches 18-year-low
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Shanghai Daily, September 22, 2011
Spain has returned to the top of FIFA's world rankings only one month after being knocked from first place but five-time world champion Brazil has fallen to an 18-year low.
China, coached by Spanish coach Jose Camacho, has dropped from 69 to 73.
World and European champion Spain returned to the top with a 3-2 friendly win over Chile followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in a Euro 2012 qualifier earlier this month.
It replaced the Netherlands which, under the complicated points system, dropped to second despite beating San Marino 11-0 at home and Finland 2-0 away in Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Germany stayed third and Copa America champion Uruguay climbed to fourth, a new high for the South Americans after a 3-2 friendly win over Ukraine.
Brazil is down to seventh after a 1-0 friendly win over Ghana in London and a 0-0 draw away to Argentina. It is its lowest ranking since August 1993 when it dropped to eighth, its worst-ever position.
The 2014 World Cup host has been rebuilding its team under Mano Menezes but has struggled to find the right formula.
England drops from fourth to eighth with Portugal and Italy rising above it.
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