England climbed to third in the new FIFA rankings published Wednesday, the team’s highest ever placing.
World and European champions Spain held onto the top spot, with Germany second as England overtook Uruguay for the only change in the top ten.
Brazil dropped two places to 13th as South American countries suffered due to points from last year’s Copa America losing some of their value because of the passage of time.
The five-time World Cup winners are now ranked below traditionally lesser footballing powers such as ninth-placed Croatia, 12th-placed Greece and Russia, up two places to 11th.
August’s rankings also marked the debut of South Sudan, whose team joins at 199th of 209 countries after drawing 2-2 with Uganda in its first match.
