GENEVA, Sept 13 (KUNA) -- The FIFA/COCACOLA footballl rankings issued on Wednesday said the Kuwait national football team has moved from 71 to 24 in the world ranking for this month.
Brazil, France, Argentine, England, Italy, Netherlands, Czeck Republic, Germany, Portugal and Spain top the world ten.
France (2nd, up 2) jump two places on the back of their 3-1 victory over Italy, and as Brazil's next competitive match will be at the Copa America in 2007, Les Bleus now have the South Americans in their sights.
Italy, meanwhile, who have yet to taste victory since their World Cup exploits, fall slightly (5th, down 3) as a result of the strict reforms introduced in July "victories in competitive matches now take precedence." impacting negatively on the world champions.
Other countries to climb the ranking include England (4th, up 1 to highest ever position), the Czech Republic (7th, up 3) and Germany (8th, up 1).
Greece (22nd, up 10), Scotland (34th, up 6), Norway (40th, up 9) and Hungary (59th, up 21) also make good progress after starting their EURO 2008 qualifiers in impressive fashion.
Lower down the table, there are also a number of climbers in the less settled areas of the ranking, particularly African and CONCACAF teams: Cuba (69th, up 31), Kuwait (71st, up 24), Panama (74th, up 24), Tanzania (105th, up 29), Gambia (119th, up 38), Mauritania (124th, up 42), Eritrea (135th, up 42) and the Bahamas (138th, up 55).
