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ZURICH, Switzerland -- Germany climbed to the top of the FIFA rankings on Thursday after winning the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, while several European rivals paid the price for their dismal performances in Brazil. Germany, which beat Argentina 1-0 on Sunday to win a fourth World Cup, replaced deposed champion Spain in first place. Argentina jumped three places into second in the rankings, while the Netherlands soared 12 spots into third after beating host Brazil to clinch third place. Reaching the quarter-finals took Colombia to fourth and Belgium to fifth in FIFAs monthly rankings, which take into account all 64 World Cup matches. Spains title defence surprisingly ended in the group stage, and the team has dropped to eighth place. First-round exits also led to Portugal going down seven places to 11th, Italy dropping five to 14th and England plummeting 10 spots to 20th. Canada fell eight spots to No. 118, one spot below the Central African Republic and just above Lebanon. The United States fell two places to 15th despite reaching the round of 16 where they lost to Belgium. The Americans were overtaken by the Dutch, Chile and France. Adeiny Hechavarria Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Dustin McGowan Jersey . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. http://www.officialraysgearshop.com/Rays-Steven-Souza-Kids-Jersey/ . The Sioux Falls Canaries scored two in the seventh and three more in the eighth to come back from a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 5-3 in front of 6,769 at Shaw Park on Sunday afternoon. Christian Arroyo Jersey .S. -- Carl-Antoine Delisle snapped a tie in the third period with his second goal of the game to lead the Tigres past Cape Breton 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Wednesday as Victoriaville won its eighth in a row. Kevin Kiermaier Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. PITTSBURGH -- Jonathan Pettibone pitched neatly into the sixth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped the Pittsburgh Pirates nine-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night. The surprising Pirates missed out on a chance to win 10 in a row for the first time since 2004, but the NL Central leaders still have the major leagues best record at 51-31. Phillies slugger Ryan Howard ended an 0-for-22 slump -- 12 strikeouts -- with an RBI single in a three-run sixth to open the games scoring. Howard and Michael Young each had two hits for Philadelphia, which scored all of its runs against Pirates rookie spot starter Brandon Cumpton. Pettibone (4-3) won for the first time since May 14 -- a span of nine starts -- by limiting Pittsburghs offence to Garrett Jones homer in the sixth. In 5 2-3 innings, Pettibone gave up three hits. The rookie right-hander was lifted after Jones shot, his eighth of the season. Philadelphias much-maligned bullpen repeatedly worked around trouble for 3 1-3 scoreless innings to finish off the Phillies second win over their past five games. Cumpton (0-1) got the ball because Jeff Locke was forced to warm up in the bullpen during the 14th inning Sunday. Jake Diekman got the final out of the sixth and Phillippe Aumont survived four well-hit balls to pitch a scoreless seventh. J.R. Ramirez, Antonio Bastardo and Justin De Fratus worked around two walks and a single in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon improved to 16 for 20 in save situations with a perfect ninth. But little else during the victory came easy for the Phillies, who began the day 9 1-2 games back in the National League East. Philadelphia relievers, who entered Tuesday with the worst ERA in the NL, allowed six baserunners over the 2 1-3 innings not pitched by closer Papelbon.dddddddddddd. None scored, though. De Fratus stuck out Jordy Mercer swinging with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth. After four baserunners reached through five, Cumpton ran into trouble during the sixth inning for the second time over his three career major league starts. Domonic Brown followed Howards RBI single with a sacrifice fly and Delmon Young made it 3-0 when he doubled in Howard. Those were the first earned runs allowed by Pittsburgh pitchers over a span of 22 1-3 innings. Before the sixth inning Tuesday, the Pirates had allowed one earned run over the prior 36 frames. NOTES: The Pirates optioned INF Josh Harrison to Triple-A Indianapolis to make roster room for Cumpton. ... Pittsburgh had won 10 of its 11 previous games started by fill-in starters Cumpton, RHP Jeanmar Gomez and RHP Phil Irwin. ... Locke will start Wednesdays game, RHP Gerrit Cole starts Thursday and Gomez will return to the bullpen for the Pirates. ... Pittsburgh RHP A.J. Burnett, on the disabled list since June 13 because of a right calf strain, threw a simulated game Tuesday. ... Phillies RHP Kyle Kendrick will make his next scheduled start Saturday at home against the Atlanta Braves. Kendrick was evaluated Tuesday in Pittsburgh and cleared two days after sustaining a concussion after being hit in the head with a pitch. ... Locke allowed two hits over six shutout innings of a 2-0 win at Philadelphia on April 23. LHP John Lannan, who starts Wednesday for the Phillies, is 1-4 in his career against the Pirates. ' ' '