Ireland have made a massive jump in the FIFA rankings to reach highest position since 2012
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Ireland have made a massive jump in the FIFA rankings to reach highest position since 2012

REPUBLIC of Ireland have jumped up 10 places in FIFA’s world rankings to reach their highest position for over four years.

On the back of an unbeaten start to their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign, Martin O’Neill’s men are now rated the 23rd best team in the world.

That makes them 14th best in Europe, with the recent 1-0 win away in Austria ensuring the Irish have surpassed the likes of Ivory Coast, Ukraine and Turkey.

Of the top 50 ranked sides in FIFA’s list, which contains over 200 teams, only Burkina Faso have achieved a bigger rise (17 places) in the latest shift.

Ireland's highest ever position is 9th, achieved in 1994.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland are also on the rise having shifted up four places to position 32.

Wales are the highest ranked British team at 12, with England just behind them in 13, while struggling Scotland have dropped 10 places to 67.