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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

The lowliest team to score against England and other ranking disparities

San Marino's Davide Gualtieri is congratulated  by a teammate after scoring against England during a World Cup qualifier in 1993.
San Marino's Davide Gualtieri strikes a blow for the international minnows in a World Cup qualifier against England in 1993. Photograph: Malcolm Croft/PA Archive/PA Images

“In September, Lithuania became the lowest Fifa-ranked country (143rd) to score against the Netherlands, who were ranked seventh,” writes Pete Tomlin. “That means a difference of 136 places between the two countries. I have two questions upon hearing this – which is the lowest-ranked team to score against England (since the rankings began in 1992) and what is the biggest difference between teams where the lower-ranked team has scored? I was thinking of the respective rankings at the time the matches took place rather than current rankings.”

The Netherlands, who won that match 3-2 in September, will meet Lithuania in the return fixture on Monday. The respective rankings are now sixth and 146th so the gap will be 140 places if Lithuania manage to score in Amsterdam.

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