Victories over Finland and Andorra have kept the Euro 2004 semi-finalists well-placed in European zone Group One and lifted them to their highest position for six years in the latest rankings published on Wednesday.
France, who continue to struggle in their qualifying group, slipped two places to fourth.
World champions Brazil remain in top spot, with Argentina, currently leading the South American qualifying competition for the 2006 World Cup, still in third.
The Netherlands and England have both climbed two places, to fifth and sixth respectively, with Spain and Mexico going the other way to seventh and eighth.
