Lausanne, July 10: The United States returned to the top of the women's FIFA world rankings on Friday after their victorious World Cup campaign in Canada.
The US won a record third world title when they thrashed holders Japan 5-2 in the final at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver last Sunday, July 5, meaning they knock Germany off the top of the rankings.
Jill Ellis's side beat Germany 2-0 in the semi-finals in Montreal which guaranteed them top spot, with Silvia Neid's team dropping to second.
France, who were beaten on penalties by the Germans in the quarter-finals, hold on to third place, just ahead of the Japanese despite the latter making the final.
England, who finished third in the tournament after beating two-time world champions Germany in the third-place play-off, have been rewarded with their highest-ever ranking of fifth.
One of the traditional heavyweights of the women's game, Sweden, have dropped down to seventh after a poor World Cup.
The Swedes -- three-time semi-finalists -- failed to win a game in Canada and were eliminated by Germany in the last 16.
World Cup hosts Canada, beaten by England in the quarter-finals and having secured just two wins in five matches, drop out of the top 10 (11th), where they are replaced by Norway (tenth).
The biggest movers are Cameroon, the African side move up 10 places to 43rd position after their run to the last 16 where they were defeated by China.     AFP