12 Mar 2009

Spain still top, New Zealand move up in FIFA rankings

7:48 am on 12 March 2009

New Zealand have moved up three places in the latest international football rankings to 79th, ahead of Albania and Oman and behind Angola.

European champions Spain remain top of FIFA's latest world rankings while their Iberian neighbours Portugal climbed back into the top 10.

Spain moved 300 points clear of second-placed Germany, boosted by their 2-0 win over England in a friendly in Seville last month. As a result of that defeat, England slipped from eighth to ninth.

Portugal, who beat Finland in a friendly last month, moved up to 10th from 12th after dropping out of the top 10 in December to replace Turkey.

Australia are ranked 32nd.