England coach Gareth Southgate said today that his ambition is for that selection to be the first in the ranking of the International Football Federation (FIFA).
His side looked far from that level during Friday night's win against 171st-ranked Malta.
However, the 2-0 win meant that England have clinched top spot in Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifiers and will almost certainly be in the top hat of next month's draw.
England will play the last match in the qualifiers tonight against North Macedonia.
"Qualification is over," said Southgate, whose team is currently fourth in the Fifa rankings.
"If you want to be the top-ranked team, there is no room for complacency. If you want to be first, then the performance has to be at the same level every time. That has to be our aim," Southgate added, British media reported.
Asked if being number one in the list is what drives him on, Southgate said: "Yes, because ultimately you achieve it with consistency and you have to play well in tournaments as well because the points in the rankings are higher in tournaments," the England coach said .
England is currently fourth in the Fifa rankings, and in front of it are world champions Argentina, France and Brazil.
In the next list, which will be published on November 30, that selection could rise to third place and skip Brazil.
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