ZURICH: Radamel Falcao’s Colombia have proved the liveliest climbers among the elite in the last 2012 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Spain still lead the table ahead of Germany and Argentina, newly followed by Italy (fourth, up one place) and Colombia, who have risen three slots into fifth.

World and European champions Spain lead the final ranking of the year for the fifth time in a row, securing themselves once again the title of Team of the Year.

The highest climbers of 2012, thanks to six wins, one draw and only one defeat, are Colombia, who have collected no less than 455 points since December 2011, moving up 31 places and gaining the title of Mover of the Year for the second time since 1993.

It has also been a very successful year for Ecuador (13th, up 365 points since December 2011) and Mali (25th, up 337 points since December 2011).

Over the course of the year, the regional composition of the top 50 has only slightly changed: whereas the number of teams from UEFA (27 teams in the top 50), CONMEBOL (9), CONCACAF (3) and the OFC (0) remained the same, CAF (eight, plus one) finished the year with one team more in the top 50, at the expense of the AFC (three, minus one).

The results of 143 international matches have been taken into account for the current edition of the  FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

In total in 2012, the results of 900 matches have been taken into account, more than half of which were friendlies (465, 52pc) and more than a quarter of which were qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ (257, 29pc).

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Summary

  • ·         Leader
Spain (unchanged)
  • ·         Moves into top ten
none
  • ·         Moves out of top ten
none
  • ·         Matches played in total
143
  • ·         Most matches played
Thailand, Malaysia (8 matches each)
  • ·         Biggest move by points
Cuba (up 157 points)
  • ·         Biggest move by ranks
Cuba (up 41 ranks)
  • ·         Biggest drop by points
Bermuda (down 96 points)
  • ·         Biggest drop by ranks
Belize (down 23 ranks)

Ranking as of 19 December 2012

Rank

Team

+/- Ranks

Points

+/- Points

+/- Points

Nov-Dec 12

Dec. 12

Nov-Dec 12

Dec 11-Dec 12

1

Spain

0

1606

42

42

2

Germany

0

1437

16

92

3

Argentina

0

1290

-59

223

4

Italy

1

1165

-4

83

5

Colombia

3

1164

           54

455

6

England

0

1151

-16

-22

7

Portugal

-3

1144

-34

44

8

Netherlands

-1

1124

-4

-241

9

Russia

0

1070

-14

99

10

Croatia

0

1064

-14

-27

Click here to view the complete ranking.

To find out more about the calculation of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking click here.

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