The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup promised a safety net for the world’s elite, but the group stage proved that reputation means nothing without execution.
Some nations enhanced their credentials with commanding performances, while others scraped through looking far less convincing than expected.
Elsewhere, several teams saw their World Cup dreams come to an abrupt end after disastrous group-stage campaigns.
With the Round of 32 now upon us, here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from the opening
phase of the tournament.
Winners
France
No team made a stronger statement than France. Les Bleus cruised through Group I with a perfect nine-point haul and an impressive +8 goal difference, looking every bit like genuine title contenders. They have been clinical in attack, solid defensively, and enter the knockout rounds with plenty of momentum despite an awkward tie against Sweden.
England
England comfortably finished top of Group L and never looked in serious danger of missing out on the knockout rounds. While tougher tests are still to come, they handled business efficiently during the group stage and now have an excellent opportunity to continue their strong run against DR Congo.
Netherlands
The Netherlands quietly put together one of the strongest group-stage campaigns, finishing top of Group F with a +6 goal difference. They were among the most balanced teams in the opening round, although their reward is far from ideal, with a dangerous Morocco side waiting in the Round of 32.
Morocco
Morocco once again proved they belong among international football’s elite. Finishing level on seven points with Brazil in Group C was no small feat, and their defensive organization continues to frustrate even the strongest opponents. Having secured qualification, they now head into the knockout rounds believing they can eliminate another European heavyweight.
DR Congo
DR Congo were one of the surprise packages of the group stage. Their spirited 3-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan secured qualification as one of the best third-placed teams and showcased the resilience that could make them dangerous opponents. England will start as favorites, but DR Congo have already shown they won’t go down without a fight.
Losers
Portugal
Portugal may have qualified for the Round of 32, but they were among the biggest disappointments of the group stage. Finishing second behind Colombia with one win and two draws was well below expectations, while their scoreless draw in the final group match highlighted an attack that lacked fluency and creativity. They now face Croatia in one of the toughest ties of the knockout stage.
Belgium
Belgium topped Group G, but their performances failed to inspire much confidence. Outside of a convincing victory over New Zealand, the Red Devils struggled to finish off chances consistently and often looked slow in possession. Progression is all that matters, but they’ll need to improve significantly if they are to make a deep tournament run.
Tunisia
Tunisia endured one of the tournament’s worst campaigns. They lost all three group matches, conceded 12 goals, and finished bottom of Group F without a single point. Defensive mistakes proved costly throughout, leaving them with a disappointing -10 goal difference.
Iraq
Like Tunisia, Iraq suffered a miserable group stage. They collected zero points, conceded 12 goals, and scored only once across their three matches. A crushing 5-0 defeat to Senegal summed up a tournament that never got going.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan arrived at the World Cup hoping to make an impression but instead endured a harsh reality check. Three defeats, a -9 goal difference, and a disappointing final-day loss to DR Congo brought an early end to their campaign, making them one of the tournament’s biggest underachievers.
