TheSportsCampus

As expected, there are very few changes in the first edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking in 2012, as precious little football has been played around the world. In fact, only 11 matches have been taken into account in the new ranking, including six games that were actually played in 2011. At the top, world champions Spain continue to lead the way ahead of the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay, who are still close together in the chasing pack. Of the top 20 teams, only Chile have been in action recently, their 3-2 victory over Paraguay seeing them overtake Russia and move into 12th place in the ranking.

Although there has not been much movement this month, some teams have still climbed the ranking and are now in their highest-ever position in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, namely Bosnia-Herzegovina (19th, up 1), Panama (47th, up 2), Estonia (52nd, up 5) and Belize (133rd, up 8). Montenegro (50th, up 1) have also returned to the top 50. This month's other winners are Uzbekistan (67th, up 8), Zambia (71st, up 8), Saudi Arabia (87th, up 9), Congo DR (116th, up 9) and Nicaragua (145th, up 9), who have all benefited from the devaluation of poor results in previous years to make significant progress up the table.

There will undoubtedly be more movement in February's world ranking as the 32 matches of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will be included in the ranking.

Ranking as of 18 January 2012