Colombia surges in FIFA Top 10

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NYON, Switzerland, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Spain keeps the No. 1 spot and Germany is second but the rest of the FIFA men's Top 10 is jumbled this month with Colombia moving to No. 9 posting a huge gain.

Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup allowed Argentina and Colombia to improve their global rankings. Argentina, going 1-1-1 in the last month, moves from seventh to No. 4. Colombia went 2-0-0, including a 4-0 win over Top 10 side Uruguay that boosts the Colombians from No. 22 to ninth in the rankings.

Spain totals 1,611 points and is well ahead of No. 2 Germany, which has 1,459 points. Portugal, up one spot to third, has 1,259 points and Argentina comes in with 1,208.

England saw a devaluation of earlier points contribute to a loss of 78 points to 1,196 and a slip of two places in the rankings to fifth. The Netherlands (1,141) is up two to sixth but Uruguay (1,140) goes from fifth to seventh. Italy also falls two places to No. 8 and has 1,106 points.

Colombia, after a gain of 259 points, has 1,102 points while Greece re-enters the Top 10 at No. 10 with 1,029 points.

Croatia falls from ninth to No. 11 and Denmark drops eight places to 18th.

The FIFA world rankings are determined by points awarded from match results in a three-year period, with more recent games given greater weight. Teams get additional points for playing relatively strong opponents. The next ranking update is scheduled for Nov. 7.