HAVING SECURED A place in the Euro 2012 qualification playoffs with six points from two games this month, Ireland have climbed to 25th in the latest FIFA world rankings.
The Boys in Green jump four places in the wake of those victories over Andorra and Armenia.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s men now face Estonia in a qualification play-off next month.
Spain are still top, while second-placed Holland have lost ground on their World Cup final victors.
The Dutch were beaten 3-2 by Sweden in their final European Championships qualifier and though they still remain in second, they’ve fallen behind.
While Holland lost the most points over the course of the last rankings period, Gary Speed’s Wales have made the biggest gain.
After wins over Switzerland and Bulgaria, they move up an impressive 45 places to 45th.
England, who claimed automatic qualification with a draw in Montenegro, move up one place to seventh, as do Scotland who are now in 51st.
With Nigel Worthington vacating the bench, Northern Ireland drop 14 places to 84th.
