http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703497 Even more bizarrely Republic are ranked 26th in the world getting pumped in their first Euros for three decades
It's bollocks, obviously, seeing as we were no better than either Sweden or the Ukraine. But give Roy time and I'm sure we'll have a team capable of reaching the QF of the next World Cup.
It is done over a period of time. Having a good qualification record as well as performances in major tournaments counts well. Hence the Republic's dreadful qualification record over the years counts against them
