Brazil slump to lowest ever ranking

Low point ... Brazil have been hampered by a lack of competitive matches. Source: Glyn Kirk / AAP

Brazil's footballers have slumped to their lowest ever position in the world game, according to FIFA's latest rankings published on Thursday.

1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. Croatia
5. Portugal
6. Colombia
7. England
8. Italy
9. Netherlands
10. Ecuador
 

19. Brazil
 

46. Australia

The 2014 World Cup hosts - automatic qualifiers for the tournament - dropped one place to 19th in the list, which also has Croatia up five places and into the top five.

The top three were unchanged with world champions Spain at number one followed by Germany and Brazil's arch South American foes, Argentina.

Croatia, who owe their sharp climb to fourth largely to their recent 2-0 "derby" win over Serbia, sit above Portugal (+2), Colombia, England, Italy (-3), Holland (-1) and Ecuador (+1), who complete the top 10.

Brazil, who are on a diet of friendlies ahead of their staging of next year's World Cup, registered a brace of draws in March - 1-1 against Russia and 2-2 with Italy - before seeing off Bolivia 4-0.

The South Americans, five-time winners of football's biggest prize, have dropped in the rankings because FIFA's list awards more points for qualifying matches than friendlies.

England dropped three places to seventh following their 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Montenegro, which came after an 8-0 victory against minnows San Marino.

Wales leapt an astonishing 22 places from 71st to 49th, with their 2-1 win in Scotland followed by a 2-1 defeat in Croatia.

Australia dropped seven spots to 46th as the third-ranked Asian team behind South Korea (42) and Japan (26).

Ivory Coast are the highest-ranked African team, moving up a place to 12th.

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