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In the latest FIFA national team ranking, the Netherlands are at the top for the first time, surpassing the European and world champion Spain who held the position for over a year.
Meanwhile, the Lithuanian team, which recently defeated Armenia in a friendly match, moved up two positions to 56th place.
It is interesting to note that the Dutch have not played any matches in the past month, but Spain's loss to Italy in a friendly match led to their rise in the rankings. The Netherlands were supposed to play against England, but the match was canceled due to riots in London.
The Netherlands is now only the seventh country to top the rankings in its history.
Aside from Spain, Lithuania's opponents in the European Championship qualifiers include the Czech Republic at 42nd, Scotland at 55th, and Liechtenstein at 119th position.
In the 2014 World Cup qualifying competition, Lithuanian footballers will compete against Greece (14th place), Slovakia (26th), Bosnia and Herzegovina (39th), Latvia (84th), and Liechtenstein.
FIFA ranking: (position, team, points)
1. Netherlands 1596 2. Spain 1563 3. Germany 1330 4. England 1177 5. Uruguay 1174 6. Brazil 1156 7. Italy 1110 8. Portugal 1060 9. Argentina 1017 10. Croatia 1009 11. Chile 960 12. Norway 943 13. Russia 940 14. Greece 937 15-17. Ivory Coast 918 France 918 Japan 918 18. Sweden 889 19. Montenegro 875 20. Mexico 864 ... 26-27. Slovakia 806 Peru 806 ... 39. Bosnia and Herzegovina 656 ... 42. Czech Republic 635 ... 55. Scotland 554 56. Lithuania 552 ... 65. Poland 498 ... 84. Latvia 388 ... 86. Estonia 374 ... 119. Liechtenstein 247
