Delaney unfazed by Ireland’s ranking slump

FAI chief executive John Delaney is not concerned about Ireland’s slump in the Fifa rankings, insisting Martin O’Neill has the players to instigate an upturn in results.

The latest listing by the world governing body places Ireland at their worst ever position of 70th.

Declining co-efficients and rankings have knock-on effects on Ireland’s position in qualification of major tournaments. Unless there’s a drastic improvement in results during the next year, Ireland will enter the draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers next summer as fourth or even fifth seeds.