The Netherlands are now the team trying to gain ground on top-ranked Spain after leapfrogging over Germany. The Dutch have been sharp in World Cup qualifying and are virtually a shoe-in for South Africa as they lead Group 9 in UEFA qualifying. For the Oranje, this is the highest ranking they have had since the September of 2005. For the past seven years they have not dropped out of the top ten in the rankings.



Meanwhile, Brazil and Argentina have dropped in the rankings. Brazil were affected by their poor run of form although they are comfortably in second place in the CONMEBOL standings. Argentina was affected in part by their 6-1 loss to Bolivia in La Paz.

Paraguay was the only CONMEBOL team to rise in this month's FIFA rankings as they jumped four places to 13th. The Guarani are currently leading the zone and are just two points away from clinching a spot in South Africa next year. The biggest fall was seen by Chile. La Rojahave all of a sudden lost their form and their way. Their disastrous showing in the Kirin Cup was a testament to that as they lost to Japan 4-0 and were only capable of generating a feeble 1-1 draw against a weak Belgian side.

If things weren't bad enough for Mexico, they just dropped out of the top 25 again. The loss to Honduras was not only the end of Sven-Göran Eriksson's tenure with the Aztecs; it was also the situation leading up to that which exacerbated the situation.