The Socceroos' pulling power for a top international coach increased further on Wednesday with Australia officially recognised as Asia's top-ranked footballing nation.

After attracting global attention for its stunning surge into the second round of the World Cup under Dutch maestro Guus Hiddink, Australia has jumped nine places to 33 on FIFA's new and improved world rankings.

It is Australia's highest position list since 1998 and leaves the Socceroos on the brink of cracking the top 30 for the first time.

In stark contrast, the rankings of Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia all plummeted after disappointing World Cups.

Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill said the governing body was working through a shortlist of five coaches to succeed Hiddink in the Socceroos top job.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy's favoured choice, Frenchman Gerard Houllier, is now regarded as a long shot.

The FFA withdrew its offer to Houllier, reportedly worth close to $3 million a year, this week after the former Liverpool and France boss failed to respond to an FFA deadline.

Houllier's biggest sticking point has been his current deal with French champions Olympic Lyon, which does not expire until the end of the 2006-07 season.

Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup coach Leo Beenhakker has also been struck from the list, with the Dutchman appointed coach of Poland.

Argentina's Jose Pekerman and German great Rudi Voeller are the latest coaches to be linked to the position.

Pekerman quit as Argentine coach after the country's quarter-final loss to hosts Germany on penalties at the World Cup.

The 56-year-old boasts a superb record as a youth coach - an attribute certain to appeal to the FFA which is keen for the new coach to have a big say in the country's football development - having guided Argentina to three World Youth Championship titles as well as two South American Under-20 Youth titles between 1995 and 2001.

Voeller was part of Germany's 1990 World Cup winning side as a player and took the country to the 2002 World Cup final as coach. He quit after four years in the top job following Germany's poor showing at the 2004 European Championships.

While the search continues for an internationally-qualified head coach, assistant Graham Arnold will take control of the Socceroos during the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers, starting with the August 16 meeting with Kuwait at Aussie Stadium.

Star midfielder Tim Cahill said the players had complete faith in the FFA to appoint the right coach at the right time.

"There's a lot of managers who are probably attracted to Australia, which is a massive compliment to us," Cahill said.

"The job's there, we're not just going to take just anyone who comes up. It's about timing.

"We've got the right people in place, it's just a waiting game, and as players we'll do our job, and let the staff, Frank Lowy and John O'Neill do theirs.

"I think it will be disappointing if we just appoint someone because it was rushed through."

Wednesday's monthly FIFA rankings were the first released under a revised system.

World Cup champion Italy, which beat Australia 1-0 in the round of 16, jumped 11 places to No.2 on the list, while Brazil, despite losing in the quarter-finals, remained top.

Iran dropped 24 places to No.47, with Japan down 31 to No.49, Korea down 27 to No.56 and Saudi Arabia losing 47 places to be 81st.

Australia joined the Asian Confederation at the start of this year.

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