By Ade O'Connor
August 14 2002

The Republic of Ireland now find themselves higher up in the World Rankings, after a World Cup in which they proved that they were able to compete with the very best in the World. The Republic are now ranked in 13th place, a rise of one place from the previous month. The FIFA World Rankings have a major bearing on the pot each team is put in come draws for the European Championships and World Cup. The news also means that Ireland will have more clout when it comes to organising friendlies against the top teams.

Ireland find themselves one place behind Denmark, who they beat 3-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly match. However, the Republic will face stuff competition for their place as the Netherlands move up to 14th position, after spending the World Cup kicking their heals.

The list is topped by World Cup winners Brazil, who now have a clear lead over their South American rivals Argentina. Despite having a poor tournament in Japan and Korea, Argentina benefit from the rampant way in which they progressed from their qualifying group.

Rivals England have landed joint 7th in the rankings, as they are tied with another World Cup disappointment, Portugal. Italy move into joint 9th place, with the emerging soccer nation that is the USA. The Americans had a very prosperous World Cup and are rewarded for their success.

Further down the FIFA compiled system, Scotland find themselves tied with the footballing super powerthat is Iraq, and behind the likes of the United Arab Emirates. The Welsh and the Northern Irish are 89th and 90th respectively, and slump behind Haiti, Mali and El Salvador.

Monserrat bring up the rear of the 203 strong countries that compete for the FIFA stakes.

The elite 20 countries are as follow:

Ranking, Country, Points, Place Last Month.

1 Brazil 859 1
2 Argentina 781 2
3 Spain 775 4
4 France 772 2
5 Germany 764 5
6 Mexico 733 6
7 England 728 8
7 Portugal 728 7
9 Italy 714 10
9 United States 714 11
11 Turkey 707 12
12 Denmark 703 13
13 Ireland Republic 699 14
14 Netherlands 693 15
15 Colombia 688 9
15 Yugoslavia 688 16
17 Cameroon 682 17
18 Belgium 677 19
19 Paraguay 674 18
20 Sweden 673 20


The Scottish region of the rankings:

38 Honduras 615 30
38 Tunisia 615 36
40 Finland 600 41
40 Morocco 600 40
42 Trinidad and Tobago 591 41
44 Egypt 587 44
46 Australia 575 50
47 New Zealand 558 88
48 Côte d'Ivoire 553 47
51 China PR 546 51
52 Peru 545 48
53 Georgia 536 55
54 Iceland 532 53
54 Israel 532 52
56 Ghana 529 57
58 United Arab Emirates 526 61
60 Iraq 525 68
60 Scotland 525 55


Teams above the lowly Wales and Northern Ireland:

63 Thailand 520 62
64 Angola 516 60
65 Zambia 510 66
65 Zimbabwe 510 63
68 Guatemala 508 65
69 Qatar 505 68
73 Uzbekistan 493 68
74 Togo 492 72
74 Venezuela 492 81
76 Kuwait 490 75
77 Bosnia-Herzegovina 487 73
79 Congo DR 486 76
80 Burkina Faso 485 77
81 Liberia 482 77
82 Algeria 481 79
82 Cyprus 481 82
84 Belarus 480 83
84 Cuba 480 80
86 Haiti 473 84
87 Mali 470 86
88 El Salvador 449 87
89 Wales 445 91
90 Northern Ireland 444 89