From one to 48 - every World Cup team ranked after first game

[Getty Images]Argentina 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. France

>Group I. Beat Senegal 3-1.

>Lived up to pre-tournament hype with rampant second-half performance. Strength in every position. Deserved favourites.

>2. England

>Group L. Beat Croatia 4-2.

>Scored four. Could have had more. Brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. Slight concerns at the back.

>3. Argentina

>Group 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. Germany

>Group 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. USA

>Group 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.

>6. Norway

>Group I. Beat Iraq 4-1.

>A team who are built around Erling Haaland and are set up to play to his strengths.

>7. Colombia

>Group 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. Morocco

>Group 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. Brazil

>Group 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. Sweden

>Group 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. Australia

>Group 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. Spain

>Group 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. Netherlands

>Group F. Drew 2-2 with Japan.

>Should have killed their game against Japan. Would be higher were it not for defensive concerns.

>14. Mexico

>Group 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. Japan

>Group 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.

>16. Scotland

>Group 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 Verde

>Group 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. Senegal

>Group 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. Portugal

>Group 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. Croatia

>Group 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 Congo

>Group K. Drew 1-1 with Portugal.

>Shocked Portugal with some fantastic, organised defending. And they looked threatening on the break.

>24. Switzerland

>Group B. Drew 1-1 with Qatar.

>A real disappointment. Created plenty of chances but very wasteful in attack.

>25. New Zealand

>Group 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.

>26. Iran

>Group 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. Haiti

>Group C. Lost 1-0 to Scotland.

>Caused Scotland problems but missed a killer instinct. Strong and physical but lacking quality.

>29. South Korea

>Group 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. Uruguay

>Group 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. Turkey

>Group 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. Austria

>Group J. Beat Jordan 3-1.

>Needed an own goal and a penalty to win. Hardly inspiring. Next up, world champions Argentina.

>33. Ivory Coast

>Group 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. Ghana

>Group 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. Algeria

>Group J. Lost to Argentina 3-0.

>Hit by Messi magic. Didn't have a shot on target.

>36. Jordan

>Group 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-Herzegovina

>Group B. Drew 1-1 with Canada.

>Looked set for an opening game win but were sunk by a deflected goal in Toronto.

>38. Canada

>Group 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. Iraq

>Group I. Lost 4-1 to Norway.

>Not many teams can stop Erling Haaland and Iraq certainly couldn't.

>40. Ecuador

>Group 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 Republic

>Group 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 Uzbekistan

>Group K. Lost 3-1 to Colombia

>No lack of guts and enjoyed their first-ever World Cup goal. But struggled to cope with Colombia's dynamism.

>43. South Africa

>Group 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. Qatar

>Group B. Drew 1-1 with Switzerland.

>A fortunate draw. They were battered by a Switzerland side who should have been out of sight.

>45. Paraguay

>Group 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. Tunisia

>Group F. Lost 5-1 to Sweden.

>History makers - as they sacked their manager after their opening game. That's how bad Tunisia were.

>47. Panama

>Group 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. Curacao

>Group 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.

Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game • >World Cup fixtures and group standings • >How to watch the World Cup on the BBC • >Everything you need to know about the World Cup