You are in > manchester.com  > News > England back into world's top ten

General Sport

England back into world's top ten

12/11/2008

England's improvement under new manager Fabio Capello has seen the team regain their position inside the world's top ten sides in the latest Fifa world rankings.

A 3-1 victory away to Belarus and a 5-1 success at home to Kazakhstan ensured England began their World Cup 2010 group with four straight wins to boost their position in the rankings by four places.

However, there was not such good news for Scotland fans, who saw their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 finals in South Africa damaged by a disappointing goalless draw at home to Norway.

That result sees George Burley's team slip seven places to 33rd in the world, just three spots ahead of the Republic of Ireland (up two places to 36th) after holding a place in the top 15 earlier this year.

Northern Ireland also fell seven places to 42nd, while Wales slipped one place to 62nd - below African minnows Burkina Faso and Gabon.

Elsewhere in the top ten there were several changes.

Euro 2008 champions Spain continue to top the standings, but behind them none of the other top nine teams remained in the same position.

Germany, who play England in a friendly this month, swapped places with Italy to move up to second; the Netherlands and Brazil exchanged spots to go to fourth and fifth, respectively; as did Argentina and Croatia (sixth and seventh) and Russia and Czech Republic (eighth and ninth).

Portugal stay tenth, level on points with England.

Full Fifa world ranking top ten:

1- Spain
2- Germany
3- Italy
4- Netherlands
5- Brazil
6- Argentina
7- Croatia
8- Russia
9- Czech Republic
=10- England
=10- Portugal
- - - - - -
33- Scotland
36- Ireland
42- Northern Ireland
62- Wales