Germans rule the roost in FIFA national team rankings

Paris:  World champions Germany comfortably top the pile of the FIFA national team rankings revealed on Thursday despite a slump in form since their rampant campaign in Brazil. The top three remain unchanged since September with Lionel Messi's beaten World Cup finalists Argentina second and Colombia in third.

Up-and-coming Belgium are fourth ahead of their northern Neighbours the Netherlands while the humiliated World Cup hosts Brazil round off the year in a respectable sixth.

Euro 2016 hosts France are seventh as Didier Deschamps' solid team continue to impress while World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal are level with them.

After years atop the heap, Spain end 2014 in ninth, but look to be in fine health with 2015 coming into view. Finally Luis Suarez's Uruguay have done enough to climb back into tenth for the year end rankings.

FIFA standings:1. Germany, 2. Argentina, 3 Colombia, 4 Belgium, 5.  Netherlands, 6. Brazil, 7. France, 7. Portugal, 9. Spain, 10. Uruguay.