1) Japan
With three wins, 11 goals and none conceded, Futoshi Ikeda’s team have arguably been the best so far. Their 4-0 defeat of Spain in particular was eye-catching as they picked apart their opponents’ possession play. The 23-year-old Hinata Miyazawa has shone in midfield and is the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
2) Sweden
Three games, three wins, nine goals scored and one conceded. Many had omitted Sweden from discussions about serious contenders but there can be no sleeping on the side now, even though they played in a group they were expected to escape from fairly easily. Should they knock out the holders, the USA, in a tantalising last-16 clash, expectations will skyrocket.
3) England
The Lionesses are “growing into the tournament” – in the words of Sarina Wiegman – after two stop-start 1-0 victories were followed by their impressive 6-1 win over China. An injury to the midfield linchpin, Keira Walsh, forced Wiegman into changes and they worked wonders, Lauren James taking the headlines with another player-of-the-match performance.
4) Netherlands
A statement finish to the group stage after an unconvincing start – a 1-0 defeat of an increasingly impressive Portugal and 1-1 draw in a replay of the 2019 final against the USA. Five goalscorers in a 7-0 defeat of Vietnam, never mind the 23-place gap between the teams in the Fifa rankings, will fill the squad with confidence after the Vivianne Miedema-shaped hole up front was looking damaging.
5) Colombia
Delivered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament by beating Germany, the favourites to top the group and one of the tournament favourites. With an impressive travelling crowd behind them, Colombia are having a hugely impressive campaign, with 18-year-old Linda Caicedo their poster-woman. Will be disappointed to have dropped points to Morocco.
6) Nigeria
“Bring on the European champions,” said a confident Randy Waldrum after the Super Falcons came through the “Group of Death”. His side stunned Australia with their impressive 3-2 victory over the co-hosts. A fast, counterattacking team, they are a stern test for any opponent and have performed far above their world ranking of 40.
7) Australia
The Matildas suffered a fright after defeat by Nigeria but a rousing performance in Melbourne in overwhelming the Olympic champions, Canada, eased worries that neither host country would progress. Far from convincing but Tony Gustavsson will feel his side have enough to see off Denmark. The health of Sam Kerr’s calf remains a worry.
8) Spain
Jorge Vilda’s side cemented themselves as one of the early favourites after they swept aside Zambia and Costa Rica. Alarm bells will be ringing, however, at the manner in which they were defeated by Japan. Their propensity to be beaten on the transition will be something for their opponents to target.
9) Jamaica
Against a backdrop of chronic underfunding and a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of travelling to the World Cup the Reggae Girls earned a stunning 0-0 draw with Brazil to knock out the 2007 runners-up. With players competing in top leagues in increasingly professional environments the gap is closing despite the lack of support.
10) South Africa
Few would have rated South Africa’s chances of progressing from Group G ahead of Italy and Argentina but the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations champions have been highly impressive. They scored one goal in their debut World Cup in 2019, losing all three games. This time they have scored six, earned four points and set up a last-16 tie with the 2019 runners-up, the Netherlands.
11) France
A somewhat chaotic start to their Group F campaign finished with a 6-3 defeat of Panama. Conceding three goals to the debutants will be a big worry. Hervé Renard has not been in the job long and the team are recovering from a tumultuous period under Corinne Diacre. This tournament could be falling a little too soon for the new-look France.
12) Morocco
The debutants regrouped after a 6-0 defeat by Germany to beat South Korea and Colombia and reach the last 16. A remarkable achievement, and the scenes as the news filtered through that South Korea had held Germany to a draw showed what it meant to the team with the former Lyon manager Reynald Pedros in charge.
13) USA
The country’s worst World Cup start and they only narrowly got out of the group, a 0-0 draw with Portugal sparing their blushes and securing second place behind the Netherlands. Teams grow into tournaments but there appears to be a real lack of a tactical vision for a group so stacked with talent.
14) Denmark
Lars Søndergaard will be pleased at his side’s progress to the knockouts after disappointment at the Euros. A late winner against China and 2-0 victory over Haiti saw them through to set up a date with the co-hosts in Stadium Australia. Pernille Harder finally got a World Cup goal in her first appearance at a finals.
15) Switzerland
Inka Grings’s team may not be the most flamboyant but they did what they had to do. An opening 2-0 win over the Philippines and two goalless draws enabled them to top Group A. They are not a team to score a lot, relying on solidity. Spain’s attack will provide a sterner test of those defensive credentials.
16) Norway
Drama has followed Norway and questions intensified after defeat by New Zealand. Caroline Graham Hansen’s incendiary interview after their second match, against Switzerland, set rumours swirling, as did her subsequent apology. An emphatic final game win over the Philippines, in which Sophie Haug starred, settled things. The fitness of Ada Hegerberg remains a worry.
17) Portugal
So close to causing the biggest World Cup upset in history, denied a late winner against the reigning champions the USA by an upright. Portugal are rapidly developing and holding the USA to a draw, the Netherlands to a single-goal defeat and England 0-0 in their final pre-tournament friendly is hugely impressive.
18) New Zealand
A topsy turvy campaign that matched recent form and ended in heartbreak. The high of the co-hosts’ tournament was their opening win over Norway in Auckland in front of a record crowd.
19) South Korea
Lost to Colombia and Morocco but what a way to go out, earning a 1-1 draw with the two-times World Cup winners Germany. A staggering defensive performance.
20) Brazil
A catastrophic exit, and even worse with it being the legendary Marta’s last World Cup. Brazil had previously failed to escape the group stage twice, in the first two official editions of the World Cup in 1991 and 1995. There is hope in the quality of some of their young players but the country needs to invest in women’s football to help it match expectations.
21) Republic of Ireland
Showed they can now compete with the best. Katie McCabe’s Olimpico and a point against Nigeria were highlights in a tournament of firsts. The challenge is to ensure it wasn’t a one-off.
22) Canada
Disastrous … how else to sum up their tournament? There will be many questions asked about the way they folded to Australia in Melbourne. A sad way for the trailblazer Christine Sinclair to say goodbye.
23) Philippines
Alen Stajcic’s team were always the underdogs. Sarina Bolden’s goal in their win over New Zealand announced the Philippines at this level and will be remembered back home.
24) China
Looked competitive in their opening two games but were stunned by England and struggled to adapt to the Lionesses’ tactics. It is the first time they have not progressed in World Cup history.
25) Zambia
Barbra Banda made history with her penalty against Costa Rica – it was the 1,000th goal at a Women’s World Cup. A firstWorld Cup win enabled the Cooper Queens to depart on a high.
26. Panama
Three defeats from three games tells one story. However, three goals against France in their final game, including a stunning free-kick to open proceedings in the second minute, brought a fitting end to a battling campaign full of promise.
27) Haiti
They return home with no points but will have opened many eyes to the potential of their players. Melchie Dumornay and Kerly Théus shone against England.
28) Italy
Another limp exit alongside their Euros display last year after the side excited at the World Cup in 2019. Conceding five to Sweden and the three in a defeat by South Africa will be particularly bruising.
29) Argentina
A 2-2 draw with South Africa looks increasingly impressive but having earned two points in 2019 there will be disappointment that Argentina collected one point this time. A limp campaign.
30) Vietnam
The debutants did so well to keep the margins against the USA and Portugal slimmer than many expected, but the floodgates opened against the Netherlands. They didn’t get a World Cup goal but there are positives to take.
31) Costa Rica
They will be disappointed with their showing in their second World Cup. Struggled to hold out against all three opponents and lacked quality up front.
32) Germany
Utterly disastrous. One of the favourites going into the tournament, Germany were made to pay for underestimating the tactical nous of Colombia and South Korea after a 6-0 defeat of Morocco sparked their campaign to life. The side ranked No 2 in the world are out.
