• FIFA world rankings

England plummet in FIFA world rankings

ESPN staff
September 12, 2013
England remain top of a tight World Cup qualifying group © Getty Images
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England have dropped three places to 17th in the FIFA rankings following the goalless World Cup qualifying draw against Ukraine.

Roy Hodgson's side face a four-way battle with Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro to seal their qualification for next summer's World Cup, and have won just four out of eight games in their group in an underwhelming campaign.

Spain remain top, followed by Argentina, Germany and Italy - who rise two places to fourth after sealing their World Cup qualification with a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic. However, fellow qualifiers the Netherlands drop four places to ninth.

The United States are the biggest climbers in the top 20 moving up six places to 13th. Uruguay jump five places to seventh while Belgium move from 10th to sixth.

Wales, bottom of their qualifying group, drop six places to 52nd while Scotland, who are fourth in the same group, drop 13 to 63rd. There is relative success for Northern Ireland who climb 23 to 86th after a win against Russia and a spirited defeat against Portugal.

The Republic of Ireland, who parted company with manager Giovanni Trapattoni on Wednesday, slump 15 spots to 59th.

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