The Netherlands national team remain fifth in the latest FIFA world rankings ahead of their fixtures against Turkey and Spain in late March.

  • By David Lee Wheatley
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11oraspanWith no international football played over the last month, Guus Hiddink’s men stay sat behind 2014 World Cup winners Germany, Argentina, Colombia and Belgium.

The biggest riser on the chart was Equatorial Guinea, who recently reached the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations. They rose by a remarkable 69 places up to 49th.

Meanwhile, tournament victors Ivory Coast are now in 20th, while runners-up Ghana assumed 25th position.

Algeria were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Ivory Coast, but continue as the best-placed African country.

Iran, quarter-finalists in the Asian Cup, moved up ten places to 41st and are the highest-rated Asian team. AFC competition winners Australia jumped 37 spots to claim 63rd.

Minnows Papua New Guinea lag behind the rest in 199th and last.