Bale’s Wales surge in world rankings to 10th place

Agencies/LondonGareth Bales’ Wales took a huge new stride in their spectacular football rise yesterday when they entered the global top 10 for the first time and became one of the top European seeds for World Cup qualifying. Chris Coleman’s team are already closing in on a place for next year’s European Championships. And as one of the top nine ranked European teams they will be a seed in the World Cup qualifying competition draw on July 25 in St Petersburg. Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain and Croatia make up Europe’s seeded teams. The likes of Italy and France were squeezed out as they fell in the new world rankings released yesterday.  Wales manager Chris Coleman said the rise reflected work on the pitch—where Wales beat Belgium in a dramatic Euro 2016 qualifier last month—and behind the scenes. “It’s fantastic for the team’s efforts to be recognised along with those who have played an important role off the pitch, from the backroom staff to our brilliant fans,” Coleman said. “However, our focus absolutely remains on qualification for Euro 2016. That will be the measurement of success.” After their Belgium win, Wales are three points clear at the top of Group B with four games remaining as they bid to reach their first major finals since 1958. Wales climbed 12 places from 22nd to 10th in the July rankings. They were a lowly 117th in August 2011 but are now just one place behind England—who jumped six places to ninth—and are above France, Italy, Spain and new Copa America champions Chile. With Real Madrid’s Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey playing a key role, Wales have lost only one of their last 11 matches. Sterling misses training again after calling in sickRaheem Sterling has again missed training at Liverpool, having told the club’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, he no longer wants to play for him.Sterling missed Wednesday’s training session citing illness, and again phoned in sick yesterday. The club did not offer any comment, though the medical department has been asked to verify Sterling’s claim, which is standard procedure.Sterling seems increasingly unlikely to take part in Liverpool’s tour to south-east Asia and Australia, which begins on Sunday. The club, though, remain clear he should travel and be available for selection for the first match in Bangkok on Tuesday.City have had a £40mn bid turned down by Liverpool but remain interested in buying Sterling. It is understood, though, that City have no plans to make a higher offer for a player valued at £50mn by Liverpool.Beach injury rules out Bayern’s Dante Brazil defender Dante is set to miss Bayern Munich’s opening pre-season warm-up tournament at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday after picking up an injury while playing beach football on holiday. Bayern face hosts Moenchengladbach, Hamburg and Augsburg in a mini-tournament as the German champions begin their preparations for the new Bundesliga season on August 14 when they host Hamburg in Munich. Centre-back Dante, 31, picked up a leg injury while playing footvolley—a popular mix of football and beach volleyball—at home in Salvador, Brazil. It means Spain international Javi Martinez is the only fit centre-back Bayern coach Pep Guardiola currently has at his disposal as Dante recovers from the minor set back. Bayern are set to present their team today in Munich before travelling to Moenchengladbach with new signing, Brazil winger Douglas Costa included for the first time since his 30 million euros ($33.1mn) transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk. Van Basten returns as Netherlands assistant coachFormer coach Marco van Basten has returned to the Netherlands national team as assistant to Danny Blind, the Netherlands Football Association said. The 50-year-old Van Basten, who coached the team 2004-2008, has been given a contract to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The European champion of 1988 has coached various Dutch club sides but stepped back from his most recent role with Alkmaar citing stress. The Netherlands are currently third in Euro 2016 qualifying Group A where they trail Iceland and the Czech Republic. Blind was named as the replacement for previous boss Guus Hiddink on July 1.