Ireland take tumble

The Republic of Ireland have tumbled down the FIFA rankings as a result of their failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in France next year.

Mick McCarthy's team have gone down to 47th from 36th in the end-of-year world rankings issued by soccer's governing body yesterday.

England, in contrast, have made a massive improvement of eight places to fourth compared to 12 months ago which reflects the impressive route taken by Glenn Hoddle's men to France '98.

They finished top of their qualifying group and ahead of Italy, who have also fallen behind England in the new rankings but moved up one place to ninth.

Ireland's successful qualifying group opponents, Romania, (who are drawn in England's group for the finals) have jumped from 16th to seventh.

Scotland, despite their qualification for France, have fallen eight places from 29th to 37th compared to this time last year while their group opponents next summer, Brazil, are still ranked as the best in the world.

Northern Ireland, currently seeking a new coach, have dropped dramatically from 64th to 93rd and Wales are 102nd after being 80th last Christmas.

European champions Germany are still second while the Czech Republic have moved up two places to third. World Cup hosts France have dropped three places to sixth, while another of the sides England must face in France, Colombia, have fallen from fourth to 10th. The other country in England's group, Tunisia, stay 23rd.

Scotland's other opponents next summer have both moved up, with Morocco leaping 12 places to 15th and Norway going up one position to 13th.

Twenty-three of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers are in the top 30 but the other nine are spread from 31st-placed South Africa to Nigeria, the first country to qualify last June, in 71st.

Terry Venables's Australia have moved up 15 places to 35th while Jamaica, who boast several Premiership-based stars, have dropped seven places to 39th.

World rankings (end of 1996 in brackets): 1 Brazil (1) 73.45pts, 2 Germany (2) 65.41, 3 Czech Republic (5) 64.92, 4 England (12) 61.26, 5 Mexico (11) 60.80, 6 France (3) 60.36, 7 Romania (16) 60.35, 8 Denmark (6) 59.95, 9 Italy (10) 59.59, 10 Colombia (4) 59.44.

Others: 11 Spain (8) 59.13, 13 Norway (14) 58.29, 15 Morocco (27) 57.87, 22 Holland (9) 55.89, 23 Tunisia (23) 55.58, 31 South Africa (19) 53.08, 35 Australia (50) 52.68, 37 Scotland (29) 52.27, 39 Jamaica (32) 51.61, 47 Ireland (36) 47.07, 93 Northern Ireland (64) 33.69, 102 Wales (80) 29.66.