Netherlands lost to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. -AFP Photo

PARIS: The Netherlands took top spot at the expense of world and European champions Spain in the latest FIFA rankings released on Wednesday.

Spain had held the position for over a year but a 2-1 friendly loss to Italy ensured the Dutch, World Cup runners-up, become the seventh team to occupy the top spot since rankings were created after Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Copa America winners Uruguay, World Cup semi-finalists, become the top South American team in fifth as Brazil, who were beaten 3-2 by Germany in a friendly this month, dropping two places to sixth.

Germany stay third and England move up to fourth, while the make-up of the top 10 remains the same, with Italy, Portugal, Argentina and Croatia the other sides.

FIFA world ranking released on Wednesday (change in brackets):

1. Netherlands (+1) 2. Spain (-1) 3. Germany 4. England (+2) 5. Uruguay 6. Brazil (-2) 7. Italy (+1) 8. Portugal (-1) 9. Argentina (+1) 10. Croatia (-1) 11. Chile 12. Norway 13. Russia (+5) 14. Greece (-1) 15. Ivory Coast (-1)