Greece win sends Ireland down FIFA rankings
Greece have sent Ireland down the FIFA World Rankings after their unexpected Euro 2004 victory.
The Republic of Ireland are down two places, now placed in equal 16th with Cameroon.
Northern Ireland slip two places to 112th while England advance from 13th to eighth after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2004. Scotland drop four places to 59th, Wales slip down one to 61st.
World champions Brazil retain top spot, ahead of deposed European champions France and Spain, who keep third place despite failing to advance beyond the group stages in Portugal.
The Greeks, who were languishing in 56th place when German Otto Rehhagel took charge in August 2001, are the big movers. They soared from 35th to an all-time high of 14th.
They had not won a match at a World Cup or European Championship before this year, but Sunday saw them crowned champions of Euro 2004 with a 1-0 win over hosts Portugal in the Lisbon final.
The Czech Republic, who Greece ousted in the semi-finals, have climbed from 11th to fourth, while Portugal go up 10 places to 12th.
FIFA World Ranking (last month’s ranking in brackets):
1 (1): Brazil – 835 points
2 (2): France – 813pts
3 (3): Spain – 792pts
4 (11): Czech Republic – 762pts
5 (5=): Holland – 748pts
6 (4): Mexico – 743pts
7 (9): USA – 735pts
8 (13): England – 733pts
9 (10): Italy – 729pts
10 (5=): Turkey – 723pts
Also:
12= (22): Portugal – 715pts
12= (8): Germany – 715pts
16= (14): Republic of Ireland – 702pts
59 (55): Scotland – 545pts
61 (60): Wales – 541pts
112 (110): Northern Ireland 424pts.
