From one to 48 – every World Cup team ranked after one gameImage source, Getty ImagesByBBC Sport reportersPublished28 minutes agoArgentina kicked off their World Cup defence with an emphatic win – but are not the best side at this World Cup so far, according to our BBC Sport experts.We’ve brought together a small team of journalists who, between them, have watched every side’s opening game.And they have ranked all 48 teams at the tournament, from first to last.Do you agree with their decisions? Make your comments below.1-101. FranceGroup I. Beat Senegal 3-1.Lived up to pre-tournament hype with rampant second-half performance. Strength in every position. Deserved favourites.2. EnglandGroup L. Beat Croatia 4-2.Scored four. Could have had more. Brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. Slight concerns at the back.3. ArgentinaGroup G. Beat Algeria 3-0.They have Lionel Messi and a team that is lifted by his presence and genius. That’s enough to be top three.4. GermanyGroup E. Beat Curacao 7-1.Any team that scores seven in their opening fixture cannot be ignored – regardless of the (lack of) quality of the opposition.5. USAGroup D. Beat Paraguay 4-1.Surprise inclusion in the top five. Destroyed Paraguay with a slick performance and have the home crowd on their side.Figure caption, Balogun scores stunner for USA against Paraguay6. NorwayGroup I. Beat Iraq 4-1.A team who are built around Erling Haaland and are set up to play to his strengths.7. ColombiaGroup K. Beat Uzbekistan 3-1.Powerful, quick and with a sprinkle of star dust that is Luis Diaz. Colombia will hurt plenty of teams.8. MoroccoGroup C. Drew 1-1 with Brazil.Looked like blowing Brazil away in opening 20 minutes. Then appeared to settle for a draw in second half. More in the tank.9. BrazilGroup C. Drew 1-1 with Morocco.Shaky start left us questioning if this was the Brazil of years gone by. But their wily squad refused to be beaten.10. SwedenGroup F. Beat Tunisia 5-1.Have two of the Premier League’s most deadly strikers and a midfield with an eye for goal too.11-2011. AustraliaGroup D. Beat Turkey 2-0.Pacy performance ensured they swept aside a Turkey side who, on paper, were strong favourites going into the match.12. SpainGroup H. Drew 0-0 with Cape Verde.Shock of the tournament so far. But created enough to win their match several times over. They’ll still go far.13. NetherlandsGroup F. Drew 2-2 with Japan.Should have killed their game against Japan. Would be higher were it not for defensive concerns.14. MexicoGroup A. Beat South Africa 2-0.Looked levels above an admittedly very poor South Africa side. Cesar Montes’ late red card was a blow though.15. JapanGroup F. Drew 2-2 with Netherlands.Impressive fight to snatch a draw from jaws of defeat. But we expected more ambition from the perennial dark horses.Figure caption, World Cup debutants Cape Verde hold on for draw against Spain16. ScotlandGroup C. Beat Haiti 1-0.Good result. Poor performance. But perhaps that’s what 28 years of pressure will do to a team.17. Cape VerdeGroup H. Drew 0-0 with Spain.Everyone’s second team at the World Cup now. The surprise package thanks to an inspired performance by veteran keeper Vozinha.18. Belgium Group G. Drew 1-1 with Egypt.Needed an own goal to draw with an admittedly strong Egypt side. Created good chances and their toughest group match is now behind them.19. Egypt Group G. Drew 1-1 with Belgium.Had looked on for their first ever World Cup win. Emam Ashour’s goal was good but they created few opportunities otherwise.20. SenegalGroup I. Lost 3-1 to France.No shame in losing to France. Didn’t concede until the 66th minute and could even have been leading but for Nicolas Jackson striking the post in the first half.21-3021. PortugalGroup K. Drew 1-1 with DR Congo.They still have Cristiano Ronaldo. And a team that is burdened by his desire to be at the centre of everything.22. CroatiaGroup L. Lost 4-2 to England.Scored two fine goals against big-hitters England. But defensively poor and too reliant on ageing stars.23. DR CongoGroup K. Drew 1-1 with Portugal.Shocked Portugal with some fantastic, organised defending. And they looked threatening on the break.24. SwitzerlandGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Qatar.A real disappointment. Created plenty of chances but very wasteful in attack.25. New ZealandGroup G. Drew 2-2 with Iran.A gutsy performance which belied their status as the tournament’s lowest-ranked team. Have breakout star in shape of Elijah Just.Figure caption, ‘It’s changing the game’ – pundits debate impact of hydration breaks26. IranGroup G. Drew 2-2 with New Zealand.Looked flaky at the back and fortunate to escape with a point.27. Saudi Arabia Group H. Drew 1-1 with Uruguay.Well organised and a threat on the break. The days of being tournament whipping boys seem far behind the Saudis.28. HaitiGroup C. Lost 1-0 to Scotland.Caused Scotland problems but missed a killer instinct. Strong and physical but lacking quality.29. South KoreaGroup A. Beat Czech Republic 2-1.Struggled for periods to break down the Czech Republic but came good when it mattered. May lack that clinical touch.30. UruguayGroup H. Drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.Had 28 shots against Saudi Arabia before eventual late equaliser. Marcelo Bielsa’s side will need to work on their finishing.31-4031. TurkeyGroup D. Lost 2-0 to Australia.Stunned by Australia in match where they had more than 70% possession. Hardly the dream World Cup return in first match back since finishing third in 2002.32. AustriaGroup J. Beat Jordan 3-1.Needed an own goal and a penalty to win. Hardly inspiring. Next up, world champions Argentina.33. Ivory CoastGroup E. Beat Ecuador 1-0.Huffed and puffed in opener with Ecuador. The introduction of Amad Diallo added a spark and gives them hope going forward.34. GhanaGroup L. Beat Panama 1-0.Looked poor in large periods against Panama but were saved by a 95th-minute winner. Will struggle against better opposition. England and Croatia to come.35. AlgeriaGroup J. Lost to Argentina 3-0.Hit by Messi magic. Didn’t have a shot on target.Figure caption, Amad scores the winner for Ivory Coast36. JordanGroup J. Lost to Austria 3-1.Scored a really nice goal. But never really threatened to beat Austria. They will struggle to get out of the group.37. Bosnia-HerzegovinaGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Canada.Looked set for an opening game win but were sunk by a deflected goal in Toronto.38. CanadaGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina.Playing in front of a home crowd but needed a deflected leveller to snatch a late draw.39. IraqGroup I. Lost 4-1 to Norway.Not many teams can stop Erling Haaland and Iraq certainly couldn’t.40. EcuadorGroup E. Lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast.Tipped as tournament dark horses but, despite creating a few chances, but were disappointing in their 1-0 defeat by Ivory Coast. Nice kit, though.41-4841. Czech RepublicGroup A. Lost 2-1 to South Korea.Slow and ponderous. Squandered a lead. This is not the Czech Republic that stole hearts in Euro 96.42 UzbekistanGroup K. Lost 3-1 to ColombiaNo lack of guts and enjoyed their first-ever World Cup goal. But struggled to cope with Colombia’s dynamism.43. South AfricaGroup A. Lost 2-0 to Mexico.Could not have been more generous to their opening day hosts. Offered little in attack. Gave the ball away for fun. And finished with nine men.44. QatarGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Switzerland.A fortunate draw. They were battered by a Switzerland side who should have been out of sight.45. ParaguayGroup D. Lost 4-1 to USA.Hammered by the United States and it could have been even worse. Defensive style is awful to watch.46. TunisiaGroup F. Lost 5-1 to Sweden.History makers – as they sacked their manager after their opening game. That’s how bad Tunisia were.47. PanamaGroup L. Lost 1-0 to Ghana.Involved in one of the worst games of the World Cup so far. Were playing for a draw when they were struck by Ghana’s 95th-minute winner.48. CuracaoGroup E. Lost 7-1 to Germany.A 7-1 drubbing on their World Cup debut but their equaliser against Germany will at least be a moment they will never forget.Figure caption, Fayzullaev scores Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goalRelated topicsFootball
