[World Rankings] Azzurri finish 2007 in third

Italy will finish 2007 in third place in FIFA’s World Rankings as Argentina end the year in pole position.

The Azzurri’s successful Euro 2008 qualification campaign hasn’t been enough to lift Roberto Donadoni’s men back to the top.

Copa America runners-up Argentina stole first place from the World champions in October and remain there despite their 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Final.

Although December's ranking is relatively unchanged, the leadership of the rankings changed six times with the Albiceleste now ending the year as 'Team of the Year'.

Italy’s Euro 2008 Group C opponents France and the Netherlands are in seventh and eighth respectively and Romania are thirteenth.

The next ranking will be published on 16 January 2008.

World Top 10 (December 2007):
[1] Argentina, 1523 points
[2] Brazil, 1502
[3] Italy, 1498
[4] Spain, 1349
[5] Germany, 1298
[6] Czech Republic, 1290
[7] France, 1243
[8] Portugal, 1241
[9] Netherlands, 1170
[10] Croatia, 1129

[Full Rankings]

Source: FIFA