FIFA World Cup power rankings: Matchday 3

The final matchday of the group stage at the FIFA World Cup is upon us and with teams starting to get eliminated and confirmed from the knockout rounds, we are getting a much clearer idea about who should be at the top and bottom of our power rankings.

1. Belgium (Matchday 2: 1st)
The Red Devils were always going to maintain their place at the top of the charts after a very strong 5-2 win over Tunisia. Their attack is in fine form with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku leading the charge.

Given so many of the other top teams are really struggling for form, Belgium are starting to sneak their way into favouritism for the whole tournament. Their matchday three match against England will show where they really stand.

2. France (Matchday 2: 3rd)
The French are really tough to get a read on. They have played two pretty defensively tough teams in the Aussies and Peru, and have only scored three goals in 180 minutes, one of those a penalty.

They can hang their hat on the fact their defence is sound though and with a game against Denmark to come, they should be looking to use it as another tune-up ahead of the Round of 16 – to which their spot is already booked.

3. England (Matchday 2: 7th)
I know what you’re saying. ‘It was only Panama.’ But then, for Brazil it was ‘only Costa Rica’, and for Spain ‘only Iran.’

Neither of those teams ran up big scores. England, on the other hand, scored a staggering six goals with their attack, led by Harry Kane, firing on all cylinders. After a 2-1 win in their first game over Tunisia as well, they shoot right up the rankings, although we will find out where they are really at next time against Belgium.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

4. Spain (Matchday 2: 2nd)
Spain will be more than a little bit concerned about their final game. While qualification is all but assured, they look out of sorts with a Diego Costa deflection the only thing getting them over the line against Iran. It’s not all that surprising when you remember they sacked their coach 24 hours before the tournament opener, but they will want to make a statement against Morocco.

5. Portugal (Matchday 2: 4th)
The Portuguese are lucky they have Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s hard dropping teams who have won games, but they won’t be happy with their performance in a 1-0 win over Morocco. They did what they needed to, but not scoring in the final 86 minutes leaves them plenty to work on when they face Iran, who will be desperate to win.

6. Brazil (Matchday 2: 5th)
The Brazilians got two on the board by the end of their clash with Costa Rica, but it wasn’t nearly as easy as the scoreboard suggests and, like a heap of other favourites, there is no way they can currently be ranked right at the top.

Two injury-time goals made them look good, but in truth the Selecao struggled to break down Costa Rica. They will want to make a statement in their final game against Serbia.

7. Switzerland (Matchday 2: 6th)
The Swiss are another team to drop a spot despite winning (blame the Poms!), but after scoring two goals in the second half against Serbia, it shows they are able to adapt to whatever is on the other end of the pitch.

The Serbs have proven themselves as a pretty defensively tough team, so to break them down twice was positive. They have a contest against Costa Rica in their final match which they will be confident of winning as well.

8. Croatia (Matchday 2: 10th)
Croatia have been one of the surprise packets so far and continue their steady rise up the rankings. They have won both of their games, including surprising Argentina 3-0 in their last contest. It means they have qualified for the Round of 16 and on their current form, they could well make an impact at the pointy end of the tournament.

(PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images)

9. Mexico (Matchday 2: 9th)
The Mexicans were very strong against South Korea. While they beat Germany without dominating in their opening match, they won back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in more than a decade against the Koreans and were an injury-time wonder strike from Son Heung-min from keeping a clean sheet as well.

The Central American nation are firing on all cylinders at the moment and could be a force to be reckoned with.

10. Germany (Matchday 2: 8th)
Germany, on the other hand, are not firing on all cylinders. They came into the tournament as the world’s top team, but their form was off and something just didn’t seem right. They proved not all was well with a loss to Mexico, then almost found a way to lose to Sweden, a 95th minute-goal to Toni Kroos keeping their tournament alive.

With a game against South Korea to come, they are favoured to advance, but going any further than a likely Round of 16 match with Brazil appears unlikely.

11. Uruguay (Matchday 2: 11th)
Uruguay have done what has been required of them in their first two matches, but really, their form is an issue. They have had two 1-0 wins against Egypt and Saudi Arabia – two sides now out of the tournament.

A deep run for the South American nation seems a far-off possibility at the moment.

12. Denmark (Matchday 2: 12th)
Denmark aren’t going anywhere in these power rankings. The pressure is still on them in terms of getting a result against France in their final game, but a draw will do to qualify.

Unfortunately, what they showed against Australia in their second match was a lack of control and ability to stay on the ball. If that continues against France, they would be expected to pay the price.

13. Colombia (Matchday 2: 16th)
Colombia were incredibly strong against Poland in their second game of the tournament, running up a comfortable 3-0 win. Their attack, which was noted as being incredibly dangerous before the tournament started, hit its straps overnight.

Their first loss to Japan has left them in a spot of bother, but a win in their final game will see them qualify with no questions asked and based on last night, they are a good shot at that.

14. Russia (Matchday 2: 23rd)
Now confirmed of a spot in the Round of 16 after their stunning win over Egypt, the Russians are putting in a dream performance on home soil.

They weren’t rated much of a chance coming into the tournament with a ranking of 70, but are now guaranteed of playing knockout football and if they can get over the top of a misfiring Uruguay, will be laughing all the way to top place in Group A.

(PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

15. Serbia (Matchday 2: 14th)
Serbia started quite strongly against Switzerland, leading 1-0 at the break. Unfortunately, they then became the first time this tournament to lose after leading, although they can feel pretty upset that they weren’t awarded a penalty after Aleksandar Mitrovic was manhandled by two Swiss defenders.

Serbia now need a win to qualify and knock out either Brazil or Switzerland (what a boilover it would be), but it’s not impossible given the form of Mitrovic and captain Aleksandar Kolarov.

16. Senegal (Matchday 2: 19th)
With Sadio Mane starting to find some form, Senegal might have been a good shot at qualifying for the Round of 16. They will be frustrated their defence let them down after taking the lead twice against Japan, and their chances of victory against Colombia in their final group game look slim. Their best bet will be to hold for a draw.

17. Japan (Matchday 2: 25th)
Japan shoot up the power rankings by eight spots after holding on for a draw against Senegal. They had beaten Colombia in their first outing and are now looking the goods to qualify for the knockout stages. The way they were able to compose themselves after falling behind twice was convincing.

18. Argentina (Matchday 2: 13th)
How the mighty have fallen. Argentina, after being held to a shock draw in their tournament opener against Iceland, are on the brink of elimination after being beaten by Croatia 3-0 in their second game.

While it was the attack which refused to work against Iceland, their defence was rubbish against Croatia, the team seemingly having no chemistry at the back. The pressure is now right on and qualification is no longer in their hands. To think they started these rankings in seventh.

19. Nigeria (Matchday 2: 27th)
Unbelievably, Nigeria are in the box seat to qualify out of Group D. They lost their opener, but now propel up the charts after getting over the top of Iceland. Facing an out-of-sorts Argentina in their final game and a seemingly unrelenting defence, the Super Eagles can qualify by simply drawing.

20. Australia (Matchday 2: 18th)
Australia have been one of the more unlucky teams at the World Cup thus far. Out of their two games, they could quite easily have had four points via a draw against France and a win against Denmark, but it just didn’t happen for the Socceroos.

Despite their attacking play dominating their second game against the Danes, they find themselves in a predicament where they must handily beat Peru and have France smack Denmark around to qualify.

21. Sweden (Matchday 2: 21st)
Sweden are still in with a big shot at qualifying for the knockout stages. After surprising most by beating Italy to qualify for the World Cup, they could do it again by dismissing either Mexico or Germany from the tournament. Given their final game is against Mexico and they almost beat Germany in their second match-up, they will be confident of their qualification prospects.

22. Iceland (Matchday 2: 20th)
After their stunning first-up victory over Argentina, Iceland were brought crashing back to Earth on the second matchday as they fell 2-0 to Nigeria. They need something of a miracle against a red-hot Croatia and for other results to go their way, but whatever the case the World Cup has been a success for the men from the north.

(Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

23. Iran (Matchday 2: 26th)
Iran are amazingly still in with a shot at qualifying to the next round. Granted, it’s a pretty long one, but most wrote them off before the tournament started. Their form has been strong and if they can find a way to get over Portugal, knockout football awaits.

24. South Korea (Matchday 2: 29th)
South Korea are as good as toast, although they could still qualify with something of a miracle. They were beaten comprehensively by Mexico on Sunday morning (AEST), going after them and giving away 24 free kicks. It was madness, and the physicality didn’t work as they went down 2-1, their goal coming in injury time.

To qualify, they would need to beat Germany by at least two goals, so, realistically, they are done and dusted.

25. Poland (Matchday 2: 17th)
Poland had a shocker against Colombia, their defence stuttering all the way to the finish line. With two straight losses, the second of those being 3-0, they are now out with no chance of qualification.

26. Tunisia (Matchday 2: 22nd)
Tunisia’s World Cup campaign was really over before it began. They had to beat England in their opener if they were going to advance, but they still won’t like the fact Belgium managed to slot five goals past them in their second game.

They have a chance to register some points against Panama in their final game though and leave Russia with some pride.

27. Peru (Matchday 2: 15th)
Peru have been one of the major disappointments of the tournament. They were expected to be right up there fighting for qualification out of a difficult Group C, but instead, have been blasted out with losses to France and Denmark.

That said, they will still try to stop Australia from qualifying in their final game and leave Russia with a win.

28. Egypt (Matchday 2: 24th)
Group A was always a difficult group to tip, mainly because it was a race of being least mediocre. Russia have blasted past their opponents though and Egypt, despite a good performance against Uruguay and Mohamed Salah’s return against the hosts, will now bow out of the tournament regardless of the result in their final match.

(Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)

29. Costa Rica (Matchday 2: 28th)
Costa Rica’s tournament has come to an end as well. While being beaten by Brazil 2-0 is hardly an embarrassment, especially when both of those goals came in stoppage time, they were dreadful against Serbia in their first match and all hope of qualifying to the Round of 16 virtually ended there for them. Joel Campbell was again solid, but it’s hard to do much with 28 per cent possession.

30. Morocco (Matchday 2: 29th)
Morocco have been far from poor during their two matches, but without a point to their name, any chance of advancing to the knockout stages is gone. Still, even after going down a goal against Portugal, their resolve was strong and the squad, which has plenty of youth in it, will learn plenty for their next crack at the World Cup.

31. Saudi Arabia (Matchday 2: 32nd)
The Green Falcons started at the bottom of the rankings, remained there in the middle and will bow out of the tournament one spot up. They were better against Uruguay, but get off the bottom due to the sheer incompetence of Panama’s defence. Unfortunately, they just haven’t been able to match up, even in the weakest group of the tournament.

32. Panama (Matchday 2: 31st)
Well, I didn’t expect to be moving the Saudis out of last spot, but what more can you say? Panama let in six goals and fully deserve their demotion to number 32.