Fifa's World Rankings for December 2012 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
Euro 2012 winners Spain end the year on top of the FIFA rankings followed by Germany, Argentina, Italy, Colombia, England and then Portugal and Holland. Russia and Croatia round out the top ten spots. Copa America champions Uruguay are 16th, while Brazil remain out of the top 10 in 18th, their lowest ever ranking.
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Germany
3 Argentina
4 Italy
5 Colombia
6 England
7 Portugal
8 The Netherlands
9 Russia
10 Croatia
11 Greece
12 Switzerland
13 Ecuador
14 Côte d'Ivoire
15 Mexico
16 Uruguay
17 France
18 Brazil
19 Algeria
20 Sweden
On a freezing night at Toyota Stadium, Mexico's CF Monterrey defeated Ulsan Hyundai 3-1 in front of a sparse crowd of 20,000 spectators wrapped up against the winter chill.
Monterrey lead at the break thanks to a tap in from Jesus Corona after the ball was pulled back to him at the near post. After a bright start ACL champions Ulsan never looked likely to match the neat one touch football and pleasing triangles of their Central American opponents.
Two goals by Argentinian striker Cesar Delgado, the first after a scintillating exchange of passing had carved open the K-League side's defence put the result beyond doubt before a long shot from Asian Champions League MVP Lee Keunho bounced through the hands of Monterrey's keeper Jonathan Orozco, who was probably suffering from extreme cold as the snow began to fall and an Arctic breeze blew through the ground.
Monterrey will now face European Champions Chelsea in Yokohama on Wednesday while Ulsan face Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Fifth Place Play Off after the J-League champions went down 2-1 to Egypt's Al-Ahly in the second game of tonight's double header at Toyota Stadium.
There was a 90 minute interval between the two games and supporters were not allowed to exit the stadium to attend the Fan Fest outside and then re-enter. Organizers need to address how supporters are to keep warm on such a cold night between matches.
