The dismal showing at the men's hockey World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany [Images], saw India drop a place, to seventh, in the latest world rankings.

After suffering five defeats in seven matches, and earning just one victory and a draw, the Indians finished 11 in the tournament. They garnered 350 points and slipped from sixth position.

With 1418 points, India are placed below Asian rivals Korea (1500), who are sixth, up two places from eighth, by virtue of a fourth place finish at the World Cup.

South American champions Argentina (1275), who were in seventh spot, also paid the price for a lacklustre showing and went down to eighth.

World champions Germany (2315), who beat Australia in the final on Sunday, effected a big change at top of the ladder, toppling the Olympic champions (2295) from the top spot.

Another major change in the rankings is the new low for the strong Netherlands (2000), who could only finish seventh in the World Cup and slipped from second to fourth place in the rankings.

The bronze medal at the World Cup propelled Spain (2193) to third place from fourth.

England [Images] (1249), on account of their sterling performance in the quadrennial event, which saw them finish fifth, improved their ranking by two places, to 9th.

South Africa (988), who finished with the wooden spoon, dropped a place to 11th.

Former Asian power Pakistan (1810), who were sixth in the World Cup after losing to England in the play-off match, remain in fifth place.

Japan [Images] (875), who entered the mega event as the lowest ranked team and sprung some surprises by beating Argentina twice and upsetting South Africa to finish ninth, took 12th place in the rankings.

The top 10 teams:

1. Germany (2315)

2. Australia (2295)

3. Spain (2193)

4. Netherlands (2000)

5. Pakistan (1810)

6. Korea (1500)

7. India (1418)

8. Argentina (1275)

9. England (1249)

10. New Zealand [Images] (1220).

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