The beaten finalists moved up one place to second, with quarter-finalists Brazil falling to third. Uruguay were the biggest climbers in the top 10, rising 10 places to sixth -- their highest ever ranking – after their unexpected run to the semi-finals.
Fellow South Americans Paraguay climbed 15 places to 16th, while Japan’s success in reaching the last 16 took them up 13 places to 32nd.
New Zealand enjoyed the most significant rise, going up 24 places to 54th after finishing their World Cup campaign unbeaten in spite of the fact they were knocked out at the group stage.
England rose one place to seventh despite crashing out to Germany in the second round, but there was no such good fortune for fellow under-achievers Italy and France.
Italy dropped six places to 11th after they were eliminated in the group phase, while France plunged 12 places to 21st following their disastrous campaign.
Hariharan,
Mylapore
Good move
The news that US is considering designating several Pakistani-based militant groups including the Haqqani network and the Pakistani Taliban as terrorist outfits should be welcomed. They act as catalyst to disturb peace in Asia.
Topping the list of the groups to be labelled as Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) is the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Haqqani network. The Haqqani group is the greatest threat to Afghanistan.
Sheetal,
Mylapore
Murky and mysterious
An Iranian nuclear scientist who sought refuge in Pakistani embassy compound after an apparent defection gone wrong, is on his way home and has threatened to reveal full details of his abduction by the CIA.
Mystery about the scientist deepened after he appeared at the Pakistani Embassy compound here claiming that he was abducted by the CIA and now wants to go back home, but the US officials said he arrived in the country on his ownwill.
James,
Avadi
