Fifa rankings: Wales rise 15 places to highest level of 22nd
Last updated on .From the section Football
Wales have reached their highest-ever world ranking after climbing to 22nd in the latest standings released by world governing body Fifa.
Chris Coleman's side have risen 15 places thanks to their unbeaten start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Scotland are up 10 places to 29th and England - the highest ranked of the home nations - are up three to 14th, with Northern Ireland up one to 42nd.
Wales' Euro 2016 qualification rivals Belgium are up to a best-ever third.
| Fifa world rankings top 10 - April 2015 |
|---|
| 1. Germany, 2. Argentina, 3. Belgium, 4. Colombia, 5. Brazil, 6. Netherlands, 7. Portugal, 8. Uruguay, 9. Switzerland, 10. Spain |
Wales topped Group B after beating Israel 3-0 in March but are now second on goal difference behind Belgium, who they face at home in June.
Wales' previous best ranking was 27th, when Terry Yorath's Wales side just failed to reach the 1994 World Cup, but in March 2011 they were as low as 116th.
"It's a fantastic achievement and if it's the highest ever then it shows we're doing something right," said Wales full-back Chris Gunter.
"Chris Coleman said last week that we've lost one game in 18 months so we probably deserve to be there and we're on a good run.
"But as high as we are in the rankings, we want to make sure that come next October we're where we want to be."