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England have dropped below Wales in the FIFA rankings for the first time, as the squad have remained in ninth place following a successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, while England have dropped two places to tenth.
Wales’ next Euro qualifying match will take place against Cyprus, with manager Chris Coleman stating that it will be a big confidence boost to Gareth Bale and the rest of his squad as they look to continue their impressive run of form.
We’ve been low in the rankings and had that rubbed in our face many a time,” Coleman said, adding: “Now we’re doing very well, certain people want to say the rankings are this and they’re that, but the players deserve that.”
He continued: “At the same time, the rankings are not going to get us to France.We need to do something no-one’s done. Success is getting to France.”
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Argentina remain at the top of the FIFA rankings by a considerable points margin, while Belgium and Germany sit in second and third place respectively.
Wales’ positioning above England in the rankings is damning of the disparity between the expectations of England and their actual performances, especially when you take into account that bookies offer odds of 125/1 for Wales to win Euro 2016, whereas England sit at a much more respectable 12/1.
Elsewhere in the FIFA rankings Scotland are in 31st place, Northern Ireland are 41st and Republic of Ireland are 51st.
