FIFA HAS RELEASED the latest update to its world rankings this morning, with Ireland dropping two places from 23rd to 25th.
The Boys in Green, who ended 2016 in their highest position in five years thanks to the famous victory over Austria, have not played since that night in Vienna and were unchanged in the first rankings of this year.
However, movement due to the African Cup of Nations has seen Martin O’Neill’s side fall a couple of slots to now sit between Turkey and Slovakia.
The biggest movers were Afcon champions Cameroon (up 29 places to 33rd) and beaten finalists Egypt (up 12 places to 23rd), while the top five of Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Chile and Belgium remains the same.
Ireland’s next fixture is the World Cup qualifier against Wales (12th) in Dublin on 24 March.
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We’ve only ourselves to blame.We shouldve done better in the AFCON.
25th is respectable and I don’t think we’d easily beat too many above us so it seems fair enough
@An_Beal_Bocht: Except for Wales, of course.
With or without Bale?!
“I can’t live, with or without Bale!” Ohohohoooooo!!
That ranking system is a joke anyway ffs. Be easier to understand Chinese.
It’s a joke Bill!
Where should we be Ted??
It was a joke Bleep.