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Brazil drop to record-low world ranking, England ninth

ESPN staff
June 6, 2013
Neymar and co will climb the rankings again with a strong performance at the Confederations Cup © Getty Images
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Brazil have dropped to a record low of 22nd in the FIFA world rankings a year before they host next summer's World Cup finals - while England have fallen to ninth.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side slipped a further three places from last month's position - at that time also the lowest in their history - following their 2-2 friendly draw with England which opened Rio de Janeiro's newly refurbished Maracana stadium.

The five-time world champions have suffered in the world governing body's official ranking as a result of their status as World Cup hosts, meaning they have not played any competitive fixtures since the Copa America in 2011 when they went out in the quarter-finals.

They will, however, have the opportunity to make up ground on the other top nations in the ranking when they host the Confederations Cup later in June.

Netherlands, World Cup finalists in 2010, rise four places to fifth, shifting Portugal (sixth), Colombia (seventh) and England (ninth) down in the process. Reigning world and European champions Spain remain top above Germany, Argentina and Croatia. Italy and Ecuador remain unchanged in eighth and tenth respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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