Zurich, Switzerland: Despite experiencing mixed fortunes at the Olympic Football Tournament in London, the three teams at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking maintained their positions in August. Gold medal winners the USA have strengthened their grip at the top with a run of nine consecutive wins, posting a total that is just short of their all-time high of 2,233 points in May 2010 and the overall record of 2,234 points set by Germany in 2005.

However, world champions Japan have lost ground to second-placed Germany after a patchy performance at the Olympics, due largely to Japan's goalless draw against outsiders South Africa. After being knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage, Sweden have been overtaken by Brazil and France, the latter eliminating the Swedes en route to the semi-finals and returning to the top five in the process.

Italy are also back in the top ten following DPR Korea's drop of three places from eighth to 11th. Apart from the USA, two countries have impressed over the past three months: South Africa, after their unexpected 0-0 draw against reigning world champions Japan, and Wales, whose defeats of the Republic of Ireland, Israel and Belgium have catapulted them into the top 40 for the first time.

The results of 98 international matches have been recognised in the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking, the majority of them UEFA Women's EURO 2013 qualifiers and matches for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012.

Three teams (Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) have been inactive for over 18 months and are therefore no longer ranked. The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking will be published on 7 December 2012. Top 5: 1, USA; 2, Germany; 3, Japan; 4, Brazil; 5, France.

Source: www.fifa.com