Scots rise 14 places up rankings

Scotland have climbed up the Fifa world rankings despite their failure to qualify for the World Cup next summer.

The Scots rose 14 places to 29th despite missing out on a place in Russia 2018, a result which subsequently saw Gordon Strachan depart as boss.

England and the Republic of Ireland have also risen in this month’s rankings.

The English, who qualified for the finals with wins over Slovenia and Lithuania, climbed three places to 12th in the rankings led by world champions Germany, it was announced yesterday.

Gareth Southgate’s side are the top home nation after Wales – who, like Scotland, missed out on the finals – fell a place to 14th.

The Republic rose eight places to 26th, while Northern Ireland fell three places to 23rd despite advancing to the play-offs.

Brazil are second in the rankings and Portugal third, with Argentina fourth, Belgium fifth and Poland sixth in an unchanged top six.

France climbed a place to seventh and Spain returned to the top 10, climbing three places to eighth.

Chile stayed in ninth despite missing out on World Cup qualification and Peru rose into the top 10 for the first time after qualifying for the intercontinental play-off against New Zealand.

Europe has 28 teams in the top 50, one more than last month.