Team USA Drops In World Ranking Despite Strong World Cup Showing
(CBS SF) - The United States men's national soccer team escaped the "Group of Death" at the 2014 World Cup, but not without a little damage to its reputation.
Jurgen Klinsmann's squad defeated Ghana and nearly beat longtime power Portugal before settling for a draw last month, before losing 0-1 to eventual champion Germany and getting eliminated in extra time by Belgium.
On Thursday, the latest ranking from soccer's governing body – FIFA – dropped the national team two spots in the world rankings for their efforts. Going into the tournament the American's were ranked 13th in the world. They are now 15th, just behind Italy and Greece. Portugal remains ranked above the American's at number 11.
The Germans are the top team overall, just ahead of the team they vanquished Sunday, Argentina.
The biggest drops in world ranking were handed down to England, which fell 10 spots to number 20 in the world, along with former champion Spain, which fell seven spots to number 8 in the world. The host nation of Brazil also dropped four places to number seven, and id now ranked behind one of the teams it eliminated Colombia.
The third place finishing Dutch, along with a surprising Costa Rican team, jumped twelve spots to the third and 16th positions respectively.
Check out the full rankings here.