THE POST WORLD Cup FIFA rankings are in and Ireland have finally stopped sliding having nestled in at a comfortable 70.
World Champions Germany can continue their celebrations safe in the knowledge that nobody is ranked higher than them after Spain were sent tumbling out of the group stages.
With ranking points based on a four-year period, Ireland have been on a steady decline down the table recently; from 60th late last year to 68th towards the latter stage of last season and 70th last month.
The pre-World Cup loss to Portugal was taken into account for this ranking calculation along with the draw with eventual quarter-finalists Costa Rica. In 70th position, Ireland are wedged between Oman (up 10 places) and Bolivia (down four places) while Bulgaria move up to 72nd.
Up at the more glamorous end of the rankings, the World Cup results are reflected in the rankings with Argentina moving into second place and the Netherlands leaping 12 places to take third.
Colombia (fourth) , Belgium (fifth), Uruguay (sixth) and Costa Rica (16th) are the other big movers thanks to the World Cup. Brazil and Spain drop to seventh and eight in the world while England drop 10 places to number 20.
