San Marino FINALLY move from bottom spot in FIFA rankings… with one nation technically below them after not playing a match for over four years

San Marino are no longer the lowest ranked side with one nation now technically below them. 

The minnows sealed their first ever competitive win over Liechtenstein on Thursday night, after Nicko Sensoli pounced on a moment of indecision at the back from the visitors.

Prior to the victory, they had lost 198 of their 204 competitive fixtures and were involved in some heavy defeats in recent memory – notably being demolished 10-0 by England in a World Cup qualifier in November 2021.

Last year they were on the end of some other hammerings – including a 6-0 loss to Finland and two 4-0 losses to Denmark and Slovenia.

However, recent results have been more encouraging. A 3-1 loss to Denmark was extremely passable 

The minnows have only ever won one game in their history – a 1-0 friendly in 2004

In March this year they drew with Caribbean side Saint Kitts and Nevis and they’re no longer the basement boys. 

East African nation Eritrea are below them as they are unranked having not played a match in over four years. 

Ertirea last stepped on the pitch in January 2020 when they lost to Sudan in a friendly match. 

Their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Niger, Zambia, Congo, Morocco and Tanzania have been cancelled with no official word from the Eritrean National Football Federation. 

‘I don’t know why it has happened or who is in charge. It is clear that those at the top aren’t taking football seriously enough,’ Eritrea midfielder Mohammed Saeid told BBC Sport Africa.

‘I feel so frustrated because there are a lot of players coming through right now with Eritrean backgrounds, many playing around Europe.

Eritrea are now unranked having not played a match since losing to Sudan in 2020

‘We could compete if given a chance but when they see what is happening, will they really want to represent Eritrea in the future?

‘I’m going to be able to tell my kids one day that I played for the Eritrea national team and it was one of the most amazing things I’ve experienced. But there are now so many players being denied this opportunity.’