The latest Fifa rankings have hit Ireland hard

We all know how much Giovanni Trapattoni likes to keep Ireland’s Fifa ranking up. He won’t like the new list published today then.

One of the reasons often cited by Giovanni Trapattoni for playing it safe in friendlies over the years is his desire to keep Ireland's Fifa ranking heading in an upward trajectory. But a run of three heavy defeats over in Poland has hit us hard.

Ireland have fallen eight places in the latest list, down from 18 before the tournament, to 26 now, just behind Paraguay and just ahead of Ecuador.

It won’t make pleasant reading for Trap or John Delaney as we slip back closer to where we were when the Italian took over in 2008.

But we’re sure the lads in Abbotstown will take comfort from the fact that we aren’t the only big losers. Holland, who suffered an equally miserable time at the Euros, dropped from fourth to eighth while Brazil slip to 11^th, the first time they have ever been outside the world’s top 10.

No surprises to see who is top, as Spain stretched their lead over the rest of the world with victory in Ukraine. Germany are up to second and Uruguay slip to third. England somehow are now the fourth best team in the world, two ahead of Italy, who reached the final.

With Germany looming on the horizon, as well as a tricky away friendly with Serbia, we can probably expect to drop a bit more before the end of the year.