DRAGONS SOAR

Wales up to 13th in Fifa world rankings… two places ABOVE England with Northern Ireland at 20

Chris Coleman's side beat Moldova and Austria in recent World Cup qualifying wins to boost chances of making Russia 2018

WALES have bagged British bragging rights - climbing two places above England in the world rankings.

Chris Coleman's side beat Moldova and Austria in recent World Cup qualifying wins to boost their chances of making Russia 2018.

Advertisement
Gareth Bale celebrates Ben Woodburn's long-range winner against AustriaCredit: Getty Images
Chris Coleman's Dragons could now avoid the big guns in the play-offsCredit: Reuters

It means the Dragons have soared from 18th to 13th in the world rankings - two places above the Three Lions.

Northern Ireland are 20th, with Scotland 43rd.

While Dragons fans will enjoy getting one over the English, their ranking could be even more significant in their quest to qualify for Russia.

Wales sit second in Group D, four points behind group leaders Serbia with two games to go.

Advertisement

If they finish second and reach the play-offs, as one of the best-placed runners-up, their seeding will be vital.

It could hand them a favourable draw for the tournament group stage as one of the four highest-ranked teams.

Woodburn's howitzer grabbed Wales a crucial win at home to AustriaCredit: Getty Images
Aaron Ramsey and Co celebrate Woodburn's super strikeCredit: Reuters
Advertisement

MOST READ IN FOOTBALL

RUB OF REGRET
Amorim is joining a Man Utd in chaos... the club is a mess behind the scenes
ALLY'S ORDEAL
McCoist suffering from incurable 'Viking's disease' that ops couldn't fix
GUARD OF HONOUR
Guardiola's new deal officially confirmed by Man City as a two-year deal
YOR IN WITH A CHANCE
Amorim makes Yoro decision with £52m star removed from squad

The draw for the play-offs takes place on October 17, a day after the rankings update.

The four best-ranked teams will go into one pot and be drawn against the other four to have finished second in their groups.

  • Everton to beat Atalanta:
  • Topics
    Advertisement
    machibet777.com