The recent flurry of pre-2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ friendly matches has left its mark on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. While positions are maintained at the very top of the table, where Germany (1st, unchanged) and Brazil (2nd, unchanged) still lead the way, the Russia-bound duo of Poland (8th, up 2) and Uruguay (14th, up 3) have succeeded in making strides within the top 20.

Wales (18th, up 3) have also climbed into that elite group, while further down the Ranking El Salvador (72, up 13), Azerbaijan (105, up 21), New Zealand (120, up 13), Kosovo (141, up 11), and Papua New Guinea (166, up 14) all registered significant gains.

There is cause to celebrate, too, for Syria (73, up 3), Lebanon (79, up 3) and Gibraltar (195, up 1), with all three - along with the aforementioned Kosovans - having ascended to their best-ever positions on the global ladder.

The Ranking makes less pleasant reading for Spain (10th, down 2), who swapped places with the Poles, Tunisia (21, down 7) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (206th, down 4), who slumped to the bottom of the table after joining Anguilla, Bahamas, Eritrea, Somalia and Tonga on zero points.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 16 August 2018.

Leader

Germany (unchanged)

Moves into top 10

None

Moves out of top 10

None

Matches played in total

74

Most matches played

Botswana, Madacascar (4 each)

Biggest move by points

Azerbaijan (up 76 points)

Biggest move by ranks

Azerbaijan (up 21 ranks)

Biggest drop by points

Tunisia (down 102 points)

Biggest drop by ranks

Guyana (down 18 ranks)

Newly ranked teams

None

Teams that are no longer ranked

None

Inactive teams, not ranked

None