France predictably shot to the top of the FIFA rankings. (Source: File) France predictably shot to the top of the FIFA rankings. (Source: File) World champions France predictably shot to the top of the FIFA rankings published on Thursday while previous leaders Germany slumped to 15th after their humiliating first round exit in Russia. The rankings were the first to be issued since France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final on July 15 and also the first since FIFA replaced its much-criticised previous formula. France were followed by Belgium, the team they beat 1-0 in the semi-finals, with Brazil dropping one place to third after their quarter-final exit against the Belgians. Surprise finalists Croatia leapt from 20th to fourth. Quarter-finalists Uruguay climbed nine places to fifth while England’s run to the semi-finals took them up to sixth place from a previous twelfth. Argentina dropped to 11th after a chaotic campaign which included a 3-0 group stage defeat by Croatia on the way to a last 16 exit against France where they lost 4-3. Hosts Russia, who began the tournament at a modest 71st place, leapt 21 spots after their surprise run to the quarter-finals. FIFA said its new formula, approved by the FIFA Council before the World Cup, relied on adding or subtracting points, depending on the results of matches, rather than averaging points over a given period of time. The global soccer governing body said the new system was developed over two years during which “a large number of different algorithms was tested and extensively discussed”. FIFA said the new system would no longer weight matches according to which region they were played in and this would provide “fair and equal opportunities for all teams across all confederations”. FIFA said the removal of an annual average point calculation, which was part of the previous formula, would have a number of benefits, including reducing the ability of teams to influence their ranking by avoiding friendlies.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section African Senegal beat Poland and drew with Japan before losing to Colombia at the 2018 World Cup Senegal and Tunisia are the joint highest African nations on the latest Fifa world rankings external-link following their World Cup campaigns. Tunisia dropped three places to 24 in the world after winning just one of their three group matches in Russia. While the Teranga Lions climbed three places to 24 globally after a win and a draw from their Group H campaign. Egypt are the biggest losers globally dropping 20 places to 65 after three losses at the World Cup. The Pharaohs are now 11th on the continent Morocco, who managed a draw and two losses in Russia, fell five places to 46 overall. Nigeria, Africa's other representatives at the World Cup, lost just a single place after their one win and two defeats. World Cup winners France external-link moved to the top of the global list with Belgium in second spot after their third place finish in Russia. August's rankings are the first to use a new formula external-link which "relies on adding/subtracting points won or lost for a game to/from the previous points total rather than averaging game points over a given time period as in the previous version of the ranking." Africa's Top 10 on August's Fifa rankings (global position in brackets): 1.Tunisia (24) 1.Senegal (24) 3.DR Congo (37) 4.Ghana (45) 5.Morocco (46) 6.Cameroon (47) 7.Nigeria (49) 8.Burkina Faso (52) 9.Mali (63) 10.Cape Verde Islands (64)<doc-sep>England's World Cup success has seen them climb to sixth place in FIFA's world rankings. Gareth Southgate's side have jumped six places after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup last month. England beat Colombia and Sweden in the knockout stages in Russia before losing to Croatia in the semi-finals. France have taken over top spot from Germany, who have crashed 14 places after flopping in Russia when they failed to make the knockout stages. Best pictures of the World Cup Show all 101 1 /101 Best pictures of the World Cup Best pictures of the World Cup Best pictures of the World Cup AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup England fans react to the game against Croatia REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup France fans celebrate their win REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Belgium's Thomas Vermaelen goes flying in the third place play off REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Belgium fans celebrate placing third REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup France fans celebrate their win AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Japan fans clean the stands after their group match against Senegal REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Lightning strikes as France celebrates their win AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup France fans pose as a national flag before their quarter final game against Uruguay AFP/Getty Images Best pictures of the World Cup Sweden score against Switzerland Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane shake hands after losing the semi final against Croatia AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup A cyclist is seen through a Russian flag in Ekaterinburg AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic presents Russina President Vladimir Putin with his very own Croatian football shirt AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup A World Cup Trophy replica is seen on the bumper of Gretar Jonsson and Kristbjorn Hilmir Kjartansson's Lada REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Colombia fans show their support in the stand Best pictures of the World Cup Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic shake hands after their match which sent Croatia to the semi-final AP Best pictures of the World Cup Displaced Syrians watch the World Cup in Ain Issa camp in Raqqa province AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Iran's players lift their coach Carlos Queiroz as they celebrate winning their opening Group B match against Morocco at the Saint Petersburg Stadium AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Croatia fans watch the final AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Brazilian football fans AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup A crowd watches the final under the Eiffel Tower in Paris AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Russian fans celebrate REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Jesse Lingard celebrates with teammate Raheem Sterling after scoring England's third goal during the group G match against Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Flying men Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after beeing tackled by Switzerland's midfielder Valon Behrami AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Pre the Group F match South Korea vs Germany REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Miguel Layun of Mexico throws plastics cups of the pitch Getty Images Best pictures of the World Cup Trippier and Kane celebrate with Pickford after he saves a penalty in the shootout against Colombia REUTERS Best pictures of the World Cup Topless AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Colombia fans show their support in the stand AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Children play football on a bank of the Volga river in front of the Volgograd arena AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Diego Maradona reacts before the Group D football match between Nigeria and Argentina AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Senegal's forward Mbaye Niang celebrates after scoring their second goal during the Group H match between Poland and Senegal at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Mbappe, age 19, receives the silver ball for best young player AFP/Getty Images Best pictures of the World Cup Flying men Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah reacts at the end of the Group A match between Russia and Egypt AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Topless Best pictures of the World Cup English fans in a Fan Fest watch the Group G football match between Tunisia and England at the Volgograd Arena AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Croatia's forward Ante Rebic celebrates after scoring their opener as Argentina's goalkeeper Willy reacts in foreground during the Group D football match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup Nigeria's forward Ahmed Musa celebrates after scoring their second goal during the Group D football match between Nigeria and Iceland AFP/Getty Best pictures of the World Cup A portrait of Argentina's legend Diego Maradona on display during the opening of the Art Project 'Like the Gods', presented by the Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts and Italian artist Fabrizio Birimbelli in Saint Petersburg.<doc-sep>
England’s World Cup success has taken them to sixth place in Fifa’s world rankings. Gareth Southgate’s side have jumped six places after reaching the semi-finals in Russia last month – the furthest they had progressed in the tournament since 1990. They defeated Colombia and Sweden in the knockout stages before losing against Croatia in the semi-finals. France ultimately defeated Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia side in the final and have taken over the top spot from Germany, who crashed 14 places after flopping in Russia when they failed to make the knockout stages. Belgium have climbed to second spot after reaching the World Cup semi-finals and beating England in the third-place play-off, while Brazil dropped to third. Croatia are the biggest movers in the top 20 and rise 16 places to fourth after making the last four in Russia and the World Cup quarter-finalists Uruguay are up nine to fifth. Fiver Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark – the latter two sharing ninth position – complete the top 10. Argentina dropped out of the top 10, down from fifth to 11th, Sweden went up 11 places to 13th after making the quarter-finals in Russia but Poland, who finished bottom of their group, were another side to plummet from the top 10 – dropping from eighth to 18th. Italy, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, dropped out of the top 20, down from 19th to 21st. Russia, who exceeded low expectations in their home tournament in making the quarter-finals, rise 21 spots to 49th. Quick Guide Fifa rankings 16 August 2018 Show Top 20 1 France (1726 points) +6 places 2 Belgium (1723) +1 3 Brazil (1657) -1 4 Croatia (1643) +16 5 Uruguay (1627) +9 6 England (1615) +6 7 Portugal (1599) -3 8 Switzerland (1597) -2 =9 Spain (1580) +1 =9 Denmark (1580) +3 11 Argentina (1574) -6 12 Chile (1570) -3 13 Sweden (1565) +11 14 Colombia (1563) +2 15 Germany (1561) -14 16 Mexico (1560) -1 17 Netherlands (1540) unchanged 18 Poland (1538) -10 19 Wales (1536) -1 20 Peru (1535) -9 Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. Wales have fallen one to 19th, the USA move up three to 22nd despite failing to reach the World Cup, while Northern Ireland climb two places to 27th. The Republic of Ireland re-entered the top 30 – climbing two spots to 29th, with Scotland also up two in taking 40th in the list.