Germany stay top of FIFA rankings, Spain, Swiss make gains

World champions Germany stay top of an unchanged leading five in the FIFA world rankings issued Thursday ahead of the December 1 World Cup draw.

Switzerland are meanwhile back in the top 10, up three places to eighth as one of the winners of the European zone play-offs, who have all improved in football's ruling body latest list.

African qualifiers Senegal are among the biggest climbers, up nine places to 23rd - their highest-ever position in the rankings - to leapfrog Tunisia (27th) and Egypt (31st) as Africa's top-ranked nation.

Germany head Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium, while Spain move up two places to sixth as the highest-ranked side among the second seeds in next week's World Cup draw in Moscow.

Poland are seventh, ahead of Switzerland, France and Chile, the only nation in the top 10 not at the World Cup finals.

Outside the top 10, European play-off qualifiers Denmark and Sweden are among the big movers, with Denmark up seven places to 12th and Sweden - who put out Italy - gaining seven places to 18th.

Italy have meanwhile improved a place to 14th while World Cup qualifiers England slip three places to 15th. World Cup hosts Russia remain 65th, the lowest-ranked side of the 32 teams at next year's tournament.

The next FIFA rankings will be published on December 21.