Socceroos stand firm in world rankings

AP - The Socceroos stayed steady but France and New Zealand are the big movers in the latest FIFA world rankings.

Without any football to speak of the Socceroos held firm at 59 in the world to be fifth in Asia behind Iran (39), South Korea (48), Uzbekistan (56) and Japan (57).

Argentina remain in top spot despite a loss to Chile in the Copa America final.

And France, despite also losing in the final of the Euros moved up ten places to be ranked seventh, while their conquerors Portugal advanced two places to be sixth.

Fernando Santos' Portugal won their first-ever major trophy at Euro 2016 on Sunday and gained two places to sixth.

New Zealand won the recent Oceania Nations Cup to make a 54-place leap, the biggest gain of any nation, to reach 93rd.

Italy also moved back into the top 10 while Uruguay dropped from ninth to 11th and Austria suffered a collapse as they fell to 21st from 10th.

Mexico leads the North, Central American and Caribbean countries in 14th while Algeria are the best African side in 32nd.