World Cup winners jump to No 1 spot

World Cup winners France top the Fifa rankings for the first time in 16 years.

After defeating Croatia 4-2 to secure their second World Cup title, they have jumped six places to reclaim the No 1 spot they last held in May 2002.

Belgium move up one place to second on the list published yesterday by football’s governing body.

Brazil, beaten by Belgium in the quarter-finals, fell one place to third, while Croatia climbed 16 places to fourth to equal their best ranking of five years ago.

Scotland have moved up two places to 40th while England, having reached the World Cup semi-finals, moved to sixth from 12th. Germany have dropped from first to 15th.