Brazil climb to 3rd in FIFA rankings, Spain top

London: Brazil rose to third in the FIFA world rankings on Wednesday after leapfrogging Germany and Argentina while Italy are back in the top 10.

Spain and Netherlands, the team they beat to win the World Cup in South Africa last year, remain in the top two spots after victories in their Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

The 2006 World Cup winners Italy have moved up two places to ninth after victories last month over Slovenia, their main rivals in the European championship qualifiers, and Ukraine.

Italy's return to the top 10 after an absence of seven months is at the expense of Greece, who have slipped to 12th.

The biggest movers in the top 50 were Israel and Belgium who jumped 25 places to 33rd and 37th respectively.

Rankings (last month's positions in brackets)

1. (1) Spain

2. (2) Netherlands

3. (5) Brazil

4. (3) Germany

5. (4) Argentina

6. (6) England

7. (7) Uruguay

8. (9) Portugal

9. (11) Italy

10. (8) Croatia