Ten days in, and the 2026 World Cup is already sorting the contenders from the tourists. Some teams arrived with reputations; a few are leaving with them intact.
The Netherlands have been the story of the week. After a nervy opening, Louis van Gaal’s successor has got them purring, and their 3-1 demolition of a previously stubborn Senegal side had pundits reaching for superlatives. Cody Gakpo has three goals already. At this rate, he’ll need a bigger suitcase for the hardware.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are heading home. It’s a brutal business, tournament football. The Carthage Eagles had their moments, but two draws and a defeat in a group containing France and Brazil was always going to be a tall order. Their supporters deserved better; the players, frankly, gave what they had.
The re-rankings after day 10 make for fascinating reading. Brazil sit top of the overall power rankings, which surprises no one, but England have climbed four places after back-to-back wins that were more convincing than the scorelines suggested. Gareth Southgate’s replacement has them defending with genuine shape for once.
Spain are quietly terrifying. They’ve barely raised their voices and yet they’ve already accumulated nine points from nine, playing a brand of football that looks deceptively easy until you realise no one can get near the ball. One analyst described it as “a pressing system dressed up as possession football.” That’s about right.
Germany, by contrast, have slipped. A draw against Morocco raised eyebrows, and their xG numbers suggest they’re creating chances without the cutting edge to finish them. Julian Nagelsmann will be concerned, though he won’t say so publicly.
There are 38 teams still standing with something to play for. The group stage has two more rounds to run, and history tells us that at least three or four sides currently sitting pretty will capitulate spectacularly before the knockout rounds arrive.
The real question now is whether the Netherlands can sustain their momentum, or whether, as has happened so many times before, they’ll find a uniquely painful way to break Dutch hearts. Football has a long memory when it comes to orange.
