Zurich, July 9 (IANS): India on Thursday dropped 15 places to be 156th in the latest FIFA rankings while Copa America runners-up Argentina moved up two spots to top the list, ahead of Germany and Belgium, while Spain fell two positions to 12th, losing their place in the top 10.
India, ranked 141st, went down in the rankings following two consecutive defeats in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Englishman Stephen Constantine-coached India lost to Oman and Guam last month.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi-led Argentina lead the pack despite losing the Copa America to Chile in Saturday's final. Under the guidance of coach Gerardo Martino, the team dethroned the reigning world champions Germany, pushing its way onto board after seven years of absence, reports Efe.
Chile, the newly-crowned Copa America champions, jumped up eight spots, landing in 11th place.
Romania, England and Wales, qualifiers for Euro 2016, managed to break into the top 10 in light of their respective competitors' downfalls, as Spain dropped two places, Uruguay fell five, and France plunged down 13 spots.
A total of 28 teams improved their standings by more than 10 spots, with surges shown by Belize up by 37 spots, Paraguay by 29, Faeroe Islands up 28 and Venezuela up by 27.
The next FIFA world rankings will be published on August 6.
FIFA ranking and point scores for July:
1. Argentina 1,473 points
2. Germany 1,411
3. Belgium 1,244
4. Colombia 1,217
5. Netherlands 1,204
6. Brazil 1,186
7. Portugal 1,177
8. Romania 1,176
9. England 1,157
10. Wales 1,155.