The World Cup is approaching the knockout rounds with most teams able to plot their route to the final.
France and Spain remain many people's fancies given their recent successes in the World Cup and the European Championships with England, Portugal, Brazil, Germany and Argentina also amongst the favourites.
While Spain fell to a shock draw to Cape Verde in their opening game, they bounced back in style against Saudi Arabia, while France made it two from two, beating Iraq.
Germany have cruised into the knockout rounds, while England stuttered against Ghana, being held to a 0-0 draw.
10 – Morocco
NO CHANGE
While they might have won it via the backdoor, Morocco are the reigning AFCON champions and played like it against Brazil. Understandably, they weren't able to sustain their energy levels throughout the second half, but the first-half performance will have given their potential opponents plenty to think about.
Semi-finalists four years ago, the Atlas Lions' start suggests that was no fluke. The 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi was outstanding, and while Morocco aren't littered with household names, they continue to be more than the sum of their parts, with Mohamed Ouahbi picking up where Walid Regragui left off.
Morocco ought to have won by more than one against Scotland, and there were vulnerabilities on show against Haiti as they conceded twice.
In finishing second in Group C, Morocco face a tough test in the Netherlands in the round of 32, but win that and they could find themselves against Canada in the round of 16.
9 – Norway
DOWN 1
A sluggish start from Norway allowed Senegal to get a firm footing in their second group game, but three goals in a 15-minute period either side of half-time saw them run out 3-2 winners and book their place in the round of 32.
A win against France would see them go through as group winners, though it could be argued they'd have an easier draw as runners-up.
Norway have shown they're more than just an Erling Haaland side, though the Manchester City man does have four of their seven goals. They haven't looked the most defensively stable, but with the world's best goalscorer, they can trouble anyone.
8 – Netherlands
NEW
The 2-2 draw against Japan wasn't the Netherlands at their best. The 5-1 win against Sweden certainly was. Although the Netherlands don't have the world class individual talent that previous sides have, Ronald Koeman has found a way to make the Oranje a formidable outfit.
In Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Brian Brobbey, there's a front three with a surprising amount of goals in them, with Memphis Depay, Crysensio Summerville and Justin Kluivert waiting on the bench.
The Netherlands face Morocco next, but win that and a tie with Canada could be all that stands between them and a World Cup quarter-final.
7 – Brazil
NO CHANGE
After a really difficult start against Morocco, Brazil have grown into the tournament. They rescued a point against the AFCON winners and were clinical against Haiti and Scotland.
In winning Group C, their reward is a potential banana skin against Japan, who are sure to provide a stern test.
Despite Brazil's improvement in their last two games, question marks remain over their midfield trio of Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta and how it stands up to the top teams in the World Cup
6 – Portugal
NO CHANGE
There were justifiable concerns about Portugal's hopes after their draw with DR Congo. Roberto Martinez's men were passive and created far too little considering the talent at their disposal.
But the performance against Uzbekistan was vastly improved. There were clever free-kick routines -- with Cristiano Ronaldo even stepping aside -- and much more attacking endeavour.
Ronaldo got on the scoresheet with a pair of smart finishes, but it remains to be seen how effective the 41-year-old can be against better opposition.
A win against Colombia in the final group game will set up an easier run to the quarter-finals, though they may run into Argentina there.
5 – Germany
NO CHANGE
It's not been easy to get a read on Germany so far at the World Cup. The win over Curacao was impressive enough, and they then came from behind to dramatically beat Ivory Coast, before a fairly pedestrian display against a desperate Ecuador.
Julian Nagelsmann has always prioritised attacking football; an admirable approach, but there's perhaps a little concern at just how open his side were, leading to Curacao netting the most unlikely equaliser, and the former Bayern boss might need to be a little more cautious in the knockout rounds.
Germany should book their place in the round of 16, though they'll likely meet France there, and improvement will be needed.
4 – England
DOWN 2
Thomas Tuchel's entire strategy as England manager has been geared towards winning the World Cup, and while the draw with Ghana was dismal in terms of the performance, it wasn't a setback in the sense that the Three Lions are any less likely for success.
If there is a concern, it's how easily stifled England were against a stubborn low block, but Tuchel's men will likely face more open sides like Mexico and Brazil to reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
The second-half performance against Croatia, who were much more expansive than Ghana, is still fresh in the memory, and there's plenty of optimism.
3 – Argentina
UP 1
Up one place are Argentina after another impressive win. The big question heading into the World Cup was whether the defending champions could lean on Lionel Messi as much as they did four years ago, and the early signs are extremely positive.
La Albiceleste are still geared towards the game's greatest-ever player, who defies his 39 years of age. Argentina haven't faced the toughest tests, but their route to the quarter-finals may well see them face Cape Verde and Egypt.
2 – Spain
UP 1
Almost every World Cup has one notable shock and 2026's came in Spain's draw with Cape Verde. The minnows' late corner almost saw them pull off what might have been the tournament's greatest-ever upset, but the draw was enough to reduce goalkeeper Vozinha to tears.
There's no denying the result was an absolute stinker for La Roja, but with a changed team -- something that will no doubt be crucial in this longer World Cup -- there aren't too many reasons to panic. If anything, the introduction of Lamine Yamal and to a lesser extent Dani Olmo and Nico Williams showed what Spain will have to offer as the tournament goes on.
That said, without Yamal Spain's attack looked blunt and for all the technical quality possessed by the likes of Rodri, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz and Gavi, they couldn't unlock an organised Cape Verde defence, and plenty of opposition will have been encouraged by the display.
1 – France
NO CHANGE
Didier Deschamps won't have been impressed with France's first-half performance against Senegal. His side were vulnerable to the counter, Michael Olise wasn't involved enough and Ousmane Dembele looked lost. Those problems were rectified somewhat in the second half, with Olise more involved and setting up Kylian Mbappe to break the deadlock.
France then picked up where they left off against Iraq, and while there are tougher tests to come, the sheer star power within the side makes them a threat against anyone.
