Scotland up to 48th in FIFA world rankings

SCOTLAND have risen to 48th in the latest world rankings announced by FIFA this morning - a climb of three places on their previous standing.

World Cup winners Spain remain top, with Germany in second place and Copa America champions Uruguay in third.

England fell one place to seventh and are now the fifth-highest-ranked European nation, trailing Spain by a massive 310 points.

Holland, winners at Wembley in February, droped back two spots to fourth.

Of the other Home Nations, Wales rose to 41st and Northern Ireland’s slide continued, down seven to 100th spot, level with Antigua.

The Republic of Ireland have joined Switzerland in joint 18th spot.

In a month where only 24 international matches were played worldwide, North Korea were the biggest risers, up 24 to 86th, with Georgia dropping 21 places to 95th.

Scotland play the United States in a friendly in Florida on 26 May.

Then there is only one more match for Craig Levein’s side - against Australia at Easter Road in Edinburgh on 15 August - before September’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers begin.