Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Zurich: Japan has retained its spot as Asia's highest ranked nation after the release of the latest FIFA rankings.
The defending AFC Asian Cup champions climbed one spot overall to now sit 44th in the world with three-time Iran also jumping up one position to sit 48th overall and remain second among the Asian nations.
Uzbekistan rounds out the top three (51st overall) with Jordan (56th) and Korea Republic (57th) switching spots in fourth and fifth respectively.
AFC Asian Cup hosts Australia slipped another three positions to 79th overall but still find themselves as the confederation's eighth ranked team.
Two of the AFC's biggest drops were 2011 AFC Asian Cup hosts Qatar, down six spots to 92nd, and Vietnam, who dropped 10 spots to 139th.
There was little change at the top of the rankings with World Cup winners Germany holding the mantle as the world's top side with Argentina and the Netherlands not far behind.
Photo: AFP