By Graham Barnstaple
October 3 2012

Scotland’s slide down the FIFA world rankings continues as they hit 56th in the world after the opening draws in World Cup qualifying.

Scotlandhave dropped 9 places in the World rankings to 56^th thanks in no small part to the draws withSerbia andMacedonia at Hampden in the World Cup Qualifiers.

They are now placed only position above next week’s oppositionWales, who they will need to beat inCardiffif they want to get their World Cup Qualification back on track.

Sadly the latest drop in the rankings see Scotland fall below footballing powerhouses like Libya and Cape Verde Islands, thankfully we are still away above the worst position of 86 back in 2005!

Thankfully the manager has now decided it is time to pick the players in form, with Steven Fletcher recalled to the squad for the double header withWalesandBelgium. Does this mean the end of Kenny Miller’s pointless running up front?

He can also welcome back skipper Darren Fletcher in midfield along with a much improved Scott Brown. This should give the manager no excuses in the next two games, and if he fails to take four points from them his end could be nigh!