England boss Southgate targets top spot in rankings

World Cup winners Argentina are currently top of the rankings with France second and Brazil third, while England have spent five consecutive years inside the top five.

The Three Lions could rise to third in the world, leapfrogging Brazil, when the next update is announced on 30 November - but Southgate wants to reach the summit.

"Am I driven by being ranked number one? Yes, because ultimately you achieve that through consistency and you've got to play well in the tournaments as well because the ranking points are higher in the tournaments," said Southgate.

"With the games at the weekend, we might be ranked third in the world at the minute, but we're two places off where we need to be so we can't waste games."

An injury-hit England will be without Kieran Trippier in North Macedonia, after he left camp because of a "personal matter", while Jarrod Bowen also went home on Sunday with injury.

Seven players named in the original squad for this round of qualifiers have now pulled out with Jude Bellingham, Levi Colwill, James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Lewis Dunk also absent.

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