France is new No.1, previous champion Germany slumps to 15th in FIFA rankings

FIFA 2018 World champions France shot to the top of the FIFA rankings on Thursday, displacing previous leaders Germany to 15th after their humiliating first-round exit in Russia.

The rankings were the first to be issued since France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final on July 15. 

Following France is Belgium, the team they beat 1-0 in the semi-finals, with Brazil dropping one place to third after their quarter-final exit against the Belgians.

Surprise finalists Croatia leapt from 20th to fourth.

Quarter-finalists Uruguay climbed nine places to fifth while England's run to the semi-finals took them up to sixth place from a previous twelfth.

Lionel Messi's Argentina dropped to 11th after a chaotic campaign which included a 3-0 group stage defeat by Croatia on the way to a last 16 exit against France where they lost 4-3. 

Hosts Russia, who began the tournament at a modest 71st place, leapt 21 spots after their surprise run to the quarter-finals.

The latest Fifa rankings were created using a new formula approved by the governing body in June.