China climb to break into top 50 in FIFA world ranking
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-02 15:20

China have escalated three positions into the 48th place in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, according to fifa.com.

The old order remains largely untouched inside the top 10 in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, as Brazil continue to lead the way, some distance ahead of France, Spain, Argentina and the Czech Republic.

Portugal (equal 11th, up 1) and Germany (equal 11th, up 2) both edge nearer to a top 10 comeback, while Turkey drop slightly off the pace (13th, down 3). With just over 30 points separating 10th and 24th position, however, the forthcoming European qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany may herald sweeping changes.

AFC Asian Cup winners Japan, appropriately the best-ranked Asian side, advance two places (18th, up 2), while runners-up China PR climb three (48th, up 3) to break into the top 50. Losing semi-finalists Iran (21st, up 3) and Bahrain (44th, up 1) also make further progress. Thanks to the nation's most recent success, Bahrain - Mover of the Year in 2003 - record a best ever position since the introduction of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking in August 1993; the same also goes for Mali (43rd, up 3).

Meanwhile, this month's most impressive climbers are Honduras (47th, up 12) - reaping just reward for a stunning win in Costa Rica with a haul of points and a place inside the top 50 - and Guatemala (64th, up 15). Also climbing more than five places are Wales (57th, up 7), Cote d'Ivoire (58th, up 6), Bosnia-Herzegovina (69th, up 7), Belarus (77th, up 6), Vietnam SR (94th, up 7) and Moldova (104th, up 6).

- The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 6 October 2004.

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