Top Ten unchanged

With world champions Brazil still heading the field, followed by European champions France, there is no major news to report at the very top of the new FIFA World Rankings.

However, while the two trailblazers have almost a 100-point cushion ahead of their nearest rivals, just 20 points separate Spain in third from 10th-placed Germany as a tightly-packed chasing group jostles for positions behind the leading duo and there are sure to be plenty of ups and downs afoot by the end of the year with the EURO 2004 eliminators due to reach their conclusion and the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition scheduled to kick off in South America.

England (eighth, up 2) and Germany (10th, down 2) trade places, following an English victory over Croatia and a German defeat at home to the Italians (11th, up 3).

Malta improves to 131st

Malta's 1-1 draw away to fellow European minnows Luxembourg this month saw the national team moving one place up the ladder and are now 131st. Malta is still lagging the Faroe Islands (118th) and Azerbaijan (120th). The other Europeans trailing Malta are Andorra (142nd), Liechtenstein (145th), Luxembourg (153rd) and San Marino (158th).