Soccer:For a manager who places great store in the Fifa world rankings, Giovanni Trapattoni could be forgiven if he afforded himself a minor celebration back home in Milan this morning.

While his energies may be concentrated on planning for the forthcoming Euro 2012 play-offs with Estonia, with Trapattoni due to announce his squad on Friday week, it won’t have escaped the his attention that the Republic of Ireland have climbed to 25th in the latest Fifa standings.

That is the highest his side have been ranked at any stage since the Italian took charge of Ireland back in May 2008, the previous high water mark being 26th in March 2009.

Trapattoni has consistently pointed to the rankings as evidence of Ireland’s improvement under his stewardship – Ireland were 41st when he took over – but sang from a different song sheet when the Euro 2012 play-off draw was made last week and it was suggested that Ireland would be overwhelming favourites against the Estonians.

“I would not like to think that we have become big headed – a Brazil, Argentina, Spain, or Germany overnight. Have we forgotten where we are in the Fifa rankings?” he asked at the time.

And while we remain some way from Fifa’s top table, at 25th Ireland are 34 places higher than our play-off opponents who slipped to 59th when the table was released this morning.

Spain remain in top spot with the second placed Netherlands losing ground on the World Cup winners after their defeat to Sweden. Germany are third, Uruguay are below them while Brazil move up two places to fifth.

Wales are back in the top 50 for the first time in eight years, their recent resurgence under Gary Speed seeing the Principality leap 45 places to 45th. Northern Ireland are down 14 places to 84.