Malta climbed three places in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking despite last month’s 3-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Malta is now ranked 150th.

Among the other European countries, Malta is ranked 49th. Just ahead of Malta are Lithuania (119, down 9), Azerbaijan (123, down 12), Cyprus (127, down 20), Moldova (132, up 13), Kazakhstan (140, up 7) and Luxembourg (144, down 2). Lying behind Malta are Liechtenstein (157, down 2), Faroe Islands (159, down 1), Andorra (203, down 2), San Marino (207).

The national team will be in action next week, facing Liechtenstein in a friendly match in Vaduz.

Meanwhile there has been plenty of movement in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with 77 qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ ensuring a number of changes compared to last month.

In the top 20, leaders Spain and second-placed Germany remain unchallenged at the top, with Argentina’s move into third place following wins over Uruguay (11th, down 4) and Chile (21st, down 4) edging Portugal down to fourth. Also benefiting from two victories are Italy (5th, up 3) and Russia (9th, up 3), the latter moving into the top ten for the first time since October 2010.

Brazil, who are hosting the 2014 world finals and thus have no potential points-earning qualifiers, managed to stay 13th thanks to two runaway wins in friendlies against Iraq (97th, down 17) and Japan (24th, down 1).

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar