The defending champions Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaign with an emphatic victory – yet they are not even the best side at the tournament so far, according to a panel of BBC Sport experts who have ranked all 48 teams after their first games.
Topping the list is a team described as having 'lived up to pre-tournament hype with a rampant second-half performance' and 'strength in every position', making them 'deserved favourites'. Argentina, lifted by Lionel Messi's presence and genius, sit third, while England – who scored four goals and could have had more – are ranked second but have 'slight concerns at the back'.
“BBC Sport experts rank all 48 World Cup teams after first games, with defending champions Argentina only third.”
Further down the rankings, the panel highlighted several eye-catching performances. Portugal (the un-named top team) were praised for their power and pace, while Colombia were noted for being 'powerful, quick and with a sprinkle of star dust that is Luis Diaz'. Brazil, despite a shaky start, refused to be beaten and were ranked inside the top ten. The surprise package so far is the team that destroyed Paraguay – a slick performance backed by a home crowd – earning them a top-five place.
At the other end of the table, World Cup debutants Cape Verde held Spain to a draw, with veteran goalkeeper Vozinha delivering an inspired performance. Japan, meanwhile, were criticised for not killing off their match, and Mexico earned just a draw against an 'admittedly very poor' South Africa side, with Cesar Montes' late red card a further blow.
With every team now having played once, the rankings provide a snapshot of the tournament's early pecking order. But as the group stage continues, positions are sure to shift – and the question of who will ultimately lift the trophy remains wide open.