Northern Ireland’s climb up the world rankings continue as they move to within just two places of neighbours Wales.
Michael O’Neill’s men moved up two places in the latest rankings to 26th, while Gareth Bale and co dropped seven spaces to 24th.
England remain in the top 10, barely ahead of 11th-placed Austria, while the Republic of Ireland drop two places to 31th, one spot below the USA.
Despite not qualifying for Euro 2016, Scotland have climbed five spaces to 40th.
Home Alone 4: Scotland during the Euros pic.twitter.com/Aipa9tlxRp
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) October 14, 2015
Wales and England’s other Group B opponents also find themselves with lower rankings this time around. Slovakia fell six spots to 32nd while Russia drop four places to tied 27th alongside Northern Ireland’s Group C rivals Poland.
Northern Ireland’s attempts to get out of their group could be blocked by fifth-ranked Germany and a Ukraine side who have moved up five spaces to 22nd.
Meanwhile, their southern neighbours face second-ranked (!!!) Belgium -who are the top-rated European team – as well as Italy (15th) and Sweden (36th) in Group E.
