Sporting Digest: Football

ENGLAND have been placed in 11th position in the first international rankings list issued by football's governing body, Fifa. The rankings, compiled from a points system based on matches played over the last six years, are due to be released monthly. They are aimed at producing a definitive league table of the world's national sides.

FIFA INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS Leading positions: 1 Germany 57.50pts; 2 Italy 56.99; 3 Switzerland 56.81; 4 Sweden 56.35; 5 Argentina 56.20; 6 Ireland 55.38; 7 Russia 54.67; 8 Brazil 54.49; 9 Norway 54.35; 10 Denmark 53.47; 11 England 52.89; 12 France 51.90; 13 Spain 50.83; 14 Mexico 50.27; 15 Czechoslovakia 50.03; 16 Netherlands 49.97; 17 Nigeria 49.53; 18 Belgium 47.77; 19 Colombia 47.67; 20 Poland 47.57; 21 Romania 47.18; 22 Uruguay 45.97; 23 Portugal 45.91; 24 Cameroon 45.03; 25 Zambia 44.77; 26 Egypt 44.43; 27 Wales 44.40; 28 United States 44.13; 29 Ivory Coast 43.00; 30 Scotland 41.79.

DERBY COUNTY are to leave the Baseball Ground, their home since 1895, and move to a new purpose- built 30,000 all-seat stadium. The First Division club have chosen a 42- acre site in the city and hope work on the pounds 16m project can start in December, so that they can move in at the start of the 1995-96 season.

WOLVES have failed to complete the pounds 250,000 signing of the Sheffield Wednesday defender, Peter Shirtliff, in time for today's home game against Bristol City, but the deal is likely to go through next week.

COVENTRY CITY are to pay pounds 150,000 for the Stockport County defender, Paul Williams.

TRANSFERS: Luther Blissett, striker, Watford to Bury (free); Wayne Clarke, striker, Walsall to Shrewsbury Town (tribunal); Lee Power, striker, Norwich City to Sunderland (loan); Paul Rennie, defender, Stoke City to Wigan Athletic (free); Carl Muggleton, goalkeeper, Leicester City to Stoke City (free); Martin Blake, midfielder, Kidsgrove Athletic to Wycombe Wanderers (trial).

GERMAN LEAGUE: Nuremberg 1 Cologne 0; Dynamo Dresden 0 MSV Duisburg 1.

BELGIAN FIRST DIVISION: Beveren 1 Club Brugge 1.