Argentina extends lead in FIFA rankings; England enters top 10
06/04/2008 | 07:30 PM

ZURICH, Switzerland – Argentina extended its lead over Brazil at the top of the FIFA monthly rankings published Wednesday with England entering the top 10.

Argentina has 1,559 points and Brazil 1,513.

Top-rated since October 2007, Argentina's margin over Brazil increased from two to 46 points. World champion Italy remains third with 1,424 points, Spain is fourth and Germany fifth.

England moved up two places to ninth. Portugal drops two spots to 11th.

Cameroon is now the top-ranked African nation at No. 13, rising three places after beating Cape Verde Islands 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. Ghana drops two places to 16th.

Mexico is best of the CONCACAF nations, up three to 14th, while the United States remains at No. 21.

Australia is up eight at No. 35 to overtake No. 38 Japan as the best-ranked Asian confederation country. New Zealand is top of the Oceania nations at 88th.

The biggest moves were made by the Philippines, up 19 places to 170th, and Togo, which climbed 17 spots to 69th. - AP