Ireland are leaping up the Federation Internationale de Football Association rankings

Federation Internationale de Football Association have released the latest rankings for the men’s national teams – Germany have dropped, Spain have climbed, and Bafana Bafana jumped up three spots.

India also gained two places to be at 31st spot among Asian countries.

Northern Ireland are down one place from 29th and Scotland slipped eight places to 52nd, suffering the biggest fall of the home nations.

Belgium will end the year as the world’s top-ranked team.

The latest rankings, published on Thursday morning, showed England at 9 and Wales at 17 in the world.

Ireland’s task for Euro 2016 has been put into context.

Meanwhile, Belgium remain top of the standings, ahead of Argentina, Spain, the World Cup winners Germany and Chile, who won the Copa America earlier this year.

Ireland’s qualification for Euro 2016 has seen Martin O’Neill’s side rise 11 places in the recent FIFA World Rankings.

Portugal conceded the maximum number of points in the month of November (145) which meant they dropped three places to finish this year at the seventh position.