FIFA rankings: Scotland climb 24 places to 50th

Robert Snodgrass celebrates with Leigh Griffiths after scoring the winner against Croatia. Picture: SNS

The Scots, who recorded an impressive victory over then fourth-placed Croatia in Zagreb in last month’s World Cup qualifier, have recorded their biggest jump since the introduction of the ranking system in 1993 and are the second most-improved side behind Senegal, who moved up 25 places to 74th.

Scotland’s last big jump came in 2006, when the rankings were upgraded by FIFA, and saw them gain 16 places.

Gordon Strachan’s team were last in the FIFA top 50 in September 2012, when they were ranked at 47th, before a series of disappointing results saw them plunge to 77th in April of this year.

Elsewhere, Brazil’s victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup Final has seen them move up 13 places to ninth, but the Spaniards retain top spot in the table ahead of Germany.

England have plummeted to 15th overall, just a year after their impressive Euro 2012 performance saw them ranked at third.

Belgium are celebrating entering the top 10 for the first time in their history, rising two places from 12th, whilst Colombia have climbed four places to third as a result of recent success in World Cup qualifying.

In world’s football regions, Japan leads the Asia group at 37, Mexico top the CONCACAF rankings at 20th, and the Ivory Coast are out in front in Africa, sitting at 13th.

The next rankings will be published on August 8th.