ZURICH: Argentina and Belgium have held on to first and second place respectively in the latest FIFA/Cola-Cola World Ranking ahead of their respective attempts to win the Copa America Centenario and the European Championship.

A total of 45 international friendlies have been taken into account in the latest ranking, along with four 2018 FIFA World Cup™ qualification matches for the OFC region.

Leading the changes were Colombia (third, up one) and Germany (fourth, up one), who leapfrogged Chile (fifth, down two) to reshuffle the order of the top five teams.

Meanwhile, Austria (10th, up one), returned to the top 10 at the expense of England (11th, down one), while elsewhere in Europe, Italy (12th, up three), France (17th, up four) and Ukraine (19th, up three) all enjoyed positive momentum in the top 20. Switzerland) slipped one place to 15th after their loss to Belgium while Turkey’s defeat to England cost them five places in the ranking (18th).

Northern Ireland secured 25th position this month, their best-ever performance since the official introduction of the ranking in 1993.

The Green and White Army will be making their debut at the European Championship and last appeared in an international competition 30 years ago at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™.

The top movers in May were Slovakia and Madagascar. The Europeans climbed eight places to 24th, while the island nation off the south-east coast of Africa climbed 29 positions to 108th.

Regional composition of the top 50 this month is: UEFA (29), CONMEBOL (8), CAF (7), CONCACAF (4) AFC (2) and OFC (0).

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 14 July 2016.

Ranking pointers

Leaders: Argentina

Moves into top 10: Austria (10th, up one)

Moves out of top 10: England (11th, down one)

Matches played in total: 49

Most matches played: United States (three matches)

Biggest move by points: Slovakia (up 68 points)

Biggest move by ranks: Madagascar (up 29 ranks)

Biggest drop by points: Rwanda (down 69 points)

Biggest drop by ranks: Rwanda (down 16 ranks)

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