Associated Press Sports
updated 8:39 a.m. ET Oct. 19, 2011
ZURICH (AP) -Spain extended its lead at the top of FIFA's monthly world rankings on Wednesday, as 2012 European Championship qualifying group winners Greece and Denmark entered the top 10.
Spain won its two Euro 2012 qualifying matches this month while No. 2 Netherlands lost one, to Sweden.
Germany and South American champion Uruguay stayed third and fourth, respectively. Brazil rose two to No. 5 followed by Italy and England.
Greece rose three to share eighth place with Portugal, which lost to the Danes and faces a playoff to advance to the Euro 2012 finals.
Argentina, which lost a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela, is tied at No. 10 with Denmark.
Japan leads Asian nations at No. 17, and 19th-placed Ivory Coast is the best African country.
Mexico heads CONCACAF members at No. 22, and the United States drops three to No. 34. Former U.S. coach Bob Bradley vaulted over his old team, leading African champion Egypt up seven places to No. 29.
Montenegro fell 13 places to No. 39 despite reaching the Euro 2012 playoffs. Estonia at No. 59 is the lowest-ranked of the eight playoffs teams.
Wales used its two Euro 2012 wins to leap 45 places to No. 45.
Iraq rose 16 places to No. 91 after beating China in a World Cup qualifier, while Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, rose eight to No. 92.
New Zealand, Oceania's best nation, did not play last month yet dropped 16 places to No. 104.
The rankings weigh all international matches over a rolling four-year cycle. FIFA took account of 136 matches in the past month, including qualifiers for the World Cup and continental championships in Europe and Africa.
? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44605961/ns/sports-soccer/
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