Brazil, Spain top world soccer rankings

NYON, Switzerland, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Brazil and Spain remained atop the FIFA world men's soccer rankings but Portugal's success in World Cup qualifying moved it back into the Top 10.

Brazil is No. 1 for the fourth consecutive month, but No. 2-rated Spain moved within 3 rankings points of regaining the top spot.

FIFA said 147 World Cup qualifying matches and another 45 games were contested in the five weeks since its September rankings were compiled.

Portugal jumped seven places to No. 10 after winning three times and tying once in the last month. Portugal's recent win over Malta put it into a playoff for a 2010 World Cup berth.

The Netherlands is ranked third this month but trails Spain by 289 ratings points. Italy retained its No. 4 ranking. Germany had been tied with Italy but slipped into fifth. Argentina improved from eighth to sixth while England held onto its No. 7 ranking.

Croatia and France each were up one spot to eighth and ninth, respectively.

Russia, which was 2-1-1 during the month, dropped from sixth to 12th.

The FIFA world rankings are determined by points received from match results over a three-year period, with more recent matches given greater weight. Teams also get more points for playing relatively strong opponents.