Ireland go up in the world

The Republic of Ireland have gone top 20.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s team have moved up three places to 20 in the latest FIFA world rankings but all three of their opponents in the group games of the European Championship finals in Poland remain well ahead of them inside the top ten. World and European champions Spain retain top spot, while Italy are up one place at eight and Croatia are down one at nine.

With none of the top ten having played in the last month, the new ratings are based on the devaluation of matches from previous years, as a result of which Germany replace the Netherlands in second place. And it will be scant consolation to Fabio Capello to know that he leaves England on an official ranking of fifth in the world, behind fourth-placed Uruguay.