Ireland 14th in FIFA rankings

THE Republic of Ireland drop a place to 14th in the FIFA world rankings after their win over Georgia and draw in Albania while England have moved up two places to seventh after their Euro 2004 qualifier wins over Turkey and Liechtenstein earlier this month.

Wales move into the World’s top 50 after an eight-year absence with a two-place leap to 49th, following their 4-0 hammering of Azerbaijan.

Bertie Vogts’ Scotland have moved up four places, to 59th, after their win over Iceland and defeat in Lithuania and Northern Ireland, after defeats in Armenia and at home against Greece, drop four places to 111.

France’s Euro 2004 qualifier wins are not enough to dislodge Spain from second place, Germany (fourth, up one) and Holland (fifth, up one).

Costa Rica (18th, up three) break into the top 20 for the first time, while sizeable gains for Croatia (26th, up eight) and Bulgaria (38th, up seven) may herald their return to headier days.

Latest FIFA/Coca-Cola world rankings: 1 Brazil 849 points, 2 Spain 785, 3 France 782, 4 Germany 755, 5 Holland 752, 6 Argentina 750, 7 England 742, 8 Turkey, 9 Mexico 724.

Meanwhile International football federation FIFA said yesterday they would meet next month to discuss increasing the number of teams at the 2006 World Cup from 32 to 36.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last month he was against plans to increase the finalists but 2006 World Cup organising committee president Franz Beckenbauer said he had no problems with a bigger tournament.

The South American football confederation (CONMEBOL), angry at losing a World Cup qualifying place to Oceania, have asked for 36 teams at the Germany finals.

The FIFA executive committee ruled last December in Madrid that South America would have just four places in 2006. In the past the fifth country in the South American qualifying zone played off against the Oceania Zone winners for a place in the final. The last time an Oceania country made the final was at the 1982 World Cup in Spain when New Zealand qualified.

Now either Australia or New Zealand are guaranteed a place in 2006. FIFA’s executive committee meets on May 3 to discuss the idea of a bigger World Cup.