China has escalated 13 positions in the ranking of the International Soccer Federation (FIFA), to the 51st place thanks to the outstanding performance in the ongoing Asian Cup, according to the August edition of the Ranking.

China's goalkeeper Liu Yunfei saves the crucial penalty during a penalty shootout against Iran to put China into the final of the 2004 Asian Cup Soccer tournament at the Workers Stadium in Beijing August 3, 2004. China will play Japan in the final.(China Daily/AFP) 

No changes at the top for the leaders: Brazil 1st, France 2nd, Spain 3rd, a trio whose composition has amazingly remained virtually unruffled since August 2002, according to Thursday's China Daily.

Argentina's penalty shoot-out second place in the Copa America has seen the South Americans not only return to the Top Ten, but also rocket to fourth place, to the chagrin of the Czech Republic (5th, down 1).

In the Asian Cup, surprise quarter-finalists Uzbekistan (51st, up 29) can celebrate twice over - despite narrowly missing out on a place in the Top 50, their Best Mover of the Month title also brings them a historic best-ever slot in the Ranking.

Other big wins are evident across South America and Asia - Uruguay (19th, up 13), Peru (61st, up 14), China PR (51st, up 13) and Oman (50th, up 8). Unfortunately for Korea Republic (22nd, down 2) and Iran (24th, down 3), their substantial points gains do not result in a move up the table, primarily due to other teams claiming even more points in the game fest during the last four weeks.

For the August edition of the Ranking, 73 new "A" matches were evaluated, bringing this year's total to 620 games so far. The regional composition of the Top 50 has been altered in Asia's favor this month: AFC: 8 teams (up 2); CAF: 9; CONCACAF: 3 (down 1); CONMEBOL; 6 (down 1); OFC: 0; UEFA: 24.    

(China Daily and FIFA.com August 5, 2004)