Glenn Hoddle's England have jumped to fourth in the end-of-year world rankings issued by FIFA.

It is a massive improvement of eight places compared to 12 months ago and reflects the impressive route taken by the team to next year's World Cup finals in France.

They finished top of their qualifying group and ahead of Italy, who have also fallen behind England in the new rankings but moved up one place to ninth.

Still number one - World Champions Brazil

Scotland, despite their qualification for France 98, have fallen eight places from 29th to 37th compared to this time last year while their group opponents next summer, Brazil, are still ranked as the best in the world.

The Republic of Ireland have gone down to 47th from 36th as a result of their failure to qualify for the World Cup. Northern Ireland, currently seeking a new coach, have dropped dramatically from 64th to 93rd and Wales are 102nd after being 80th last Christmas.

European champions Germany are still second while the Czech Republic have moved up two places to third. World Cup hosts France have dropped three places to sixth and England's group opponents, Romania, have jumped from 16th to seventh.

But another side Hoddle's team must face, Colombia, have fallen from fourth to 10th while the other country in England's group, Tunisia, stay 23rd.

Scotland's other opponents next summer have both moved up, with Morocco leaping 12 places to 15th and Norway going up one position to 13th.

Twenty-three of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers are in the top 30 but the other nine are spread from 31st-placed South Africa to Nigeria, the first country to qualify last June, in 71st.

Terry Venables' Australia have moved up 15 places to 35th while Jamaica, who boast several Premiership-based stars, have dropped seven places to 39th.

Top ten world rankings

1 Brazil

2 Germany

3 Czech Republic

4 England

5 Mexico

6 France

7 Romania

8 Denmark

9 Italy

10 Colombia

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