Republic of Ireland rise to 48th in new Fifa world rankings 

Elsewhere on the list released by Fifa on Thursday, newly crowned World champions Argentina rise to second but Brazil remain at the summit. Beaten finalists France are up to third.

RISE: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Republic of Ireland have moved up one place in the Fifa rankings to end 2022 in 48th place.

Last month’s narrow 1-0 win over a Maltese side ranked 168 in the world supplied a small sliver of consolation following a disappointing year when Stephen Kenny’s target of topping the Uefa Nations League group fell well short into third.