China's national football team is back among the world's top 100 in the latest FIFA world rankings, thanks to its undefeated performance in two Asian Cup qualifying matches to Singapore.

The team earned 82 points, allowing it to advance 12 places up from last month's ranking to 91st place.

China beat Singapore 1-0 in the Asian Cup qualifier on August 16th and tied 0-0 with the Singaporeans in the return leg on September 6.

Brazil remains the top ranked soccer team in the world, while World Cup champions Italy dropped from second to fifth place.

World Cup runners-up France moved up to second place, ahead of Argentina and England.
 
(CRI September 14, 2006)