Ukraine’s national football team climbs one spot in FIFA ranking

Ukraine’s national football team climbed from 55th to 54th place in the new FIFA ranking that was released on the organization’s official Web site on Wednesday.

World and European champions Spain top the table. They are followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay.

One of Ukraine’s opponents in the Euro 2012 group stage – England – remains in fifth place. France is 15th, while Sweden climbed one position and is now 17th.

The Russian national football team dropped one spot and is now in 13th place.

Ukraine’s Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland moved from 66th to 68th position.

Twelve out of the 16 participants in the upcoming Euro 2012 are among the 20 strongest teams in the world. Ireland is 23rd and the Czech Republic is 31st.