France surge to top of revamped FIFA rankings

France jumped to the top of the FIFA world rankings on Thursday following their World Cup triumph in Russia last month.

Les Bleus rose six places in the first rankings update since their 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final on July 15.

Previous leaders and 2014 World Cup champions Germany slid to 15th following their group stage exit in the football's biggest tournament.

Belgium, beaten semifinalists in Russia, rose one spot to second while Brazil fell a rung to third after their quarterfinal exit.

Croatia leapt 16 places to fourth, equaling their highest ever position, following a first World Cup final appearance.

Quarterfinalists Uruguay climbed nine spots to fifth while England surged to sixth from 12th after placing fourth.

Argentina slipped six rungs to 11th following an erratic campaign in which they were bundled out with a 4-3 defeat to France in the last 16.

The biggest movers were tournament hosts Russia, who stormed to 49th after reaching the quarterfinals.

China remained 75th, the seventh-ranked Asian team.

The rankings were the first since FIFA replaced its oft-maligned previous formula. World football's governing body said the new system adds or subtracts points depending on results instead of averaging points over time.