Despite a 3-1 defeat to Greece in a EURO 2012 qualifier in Piraeus earlier this month, Malta retained the 161st place in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Among European countries, Malta is still 51st. Just ahead of Malta are Azerbaijan (112, down 4), Wales (114), Faroe Islands (114, up 22), Liechtenstein (120, up 33), Iceland (122, down 6), Kazakhstan (126, up 13), Luxembourg (128, down 3). Andorra and San Marino lie at the bottom, losing one place to 203rd.

Malta is supposed to play a friendly match on August 10 but the game is yet to be confirmed. Two home EURO 2012 qualifiers follow – against Croatia on September 2 and against Georgia on October 6.

Meanwhile the CONCACAF Gold Cup, numerous qualifying matches for confederation championships and the devaluation of the first phase of matches from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ have led to considerable movement on this month’s FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Among the top ten teams, only leaders Spain and closest challengers the Netherlands have retained their positions. Brazil, third last month, have lost points and places (5th, down 2), and the pecking order has also changed further down. Mexico have gained 19 places thanks to their victory at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and have rocketed back into the top ten for the first time since July 2007.

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar