How does Ronaldo turning up change things? Re-ranking the 48 World Cup teams after day 13
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- France maintains the top spot in the World Cup rankings after a strong 3-0 win against Iraq, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Michael Olise providing two assists, securing their place in the knockouts.
- Argentina, ranked second, continues to impress with Lionel Messi scoring all five goals in their two wins, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, though concerns remain over Cristian Romero's injury.
- Germany and Spain have solidified their positions in the top five, with Germany advancing to the knockouts after a late 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, and Spain bouncing back from a draw with Cape Verde by defeating Saudi Arabia 4-0.
- England's ranking drops after a goalless draw with Ghana, contrasting their earlier 4-2 win over Croatia, while the United States remains strong at ninth place with back-to-back wins and group-topping status.
- Several teams face challenges, including Uruguay, Senegal, and Turkey, who have struggled to secure points and now face uphill battles to progress, while debutants like Cape Verde and Canada have made surprising impacts in the tournament.
