FILE–England’s Harry Kane celebrates scores their second goal. REUTERS/Laurence Griffiths
Euro 2020 finalists England pushed world champions France out of the top three in world football body FIFA’s latest men’s rankings published on Thursday.
Belgium remained the top ranked side, followed by Brazil. European champion Italy, on a record unbeaten international run of 37 matches, is fifth with Argentina sixth.
Third place equals England’s highest ranking in 2012. Gareth Southgate’s side lost on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley in July and were World Cup semi-finalists in Russia in 2018.
France went out of Euro 2020 in the round of 16.
In the women’s rankings, Sweden moved up to second behind world champions the United States with Germany dropping to third.
England, under new management with Sarina Wiegman replacing Phil Neville, is eighth — their lowest since 2010.