Curacao… up? Re-ranking the 48 World Cup teams after day four of the tournament
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Spain and France are considered top contenders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Spain slightly favored due to their young, attacking talent and France boasting an incredibly deep forward line.
- Argentina, the reigning champions, have the quality and experience to defend their title but face questions about their motivation, while England shows promise with strong striker form and squad depth.
- Germany impressed with a 7-1 win over Curacao, showcasing an imaginative attack but revealing defensive weaknesses, and Brazil's start was underwhelming with concerns in full-back and midfield positions.
- Morocco demonstrated strength with a draw against Brazil, highlighting new talent like Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Colombia carries hope with key players such as James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz.
- Lower-ranked teams like Curacao and Ivory Coast have shown surprising performances, with Curacao moving up after challenging Germany and Ivory Coast positioned well to reach the knockout stage for the first time.
