As first weeks go, the opening round of the 2022 World Cup ran the spectrum from historical upsets to some tedious encounters, with most squads having very little time to gel owing to the unique nature of a midseason tournament. Here’s a look at where some of the notable names stand after their first games.
CONTENDERS
Casemiro of Brazil plays against Serbia at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 24, in Lusail City, Qatar.Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Brazil
The five-time world champions took a little time to get out of first gear in their opening test against Serbia on Thursday. Ominously for the rest of the tournament field, they then showed why they went to Qatar as many people’s favourites to win a sixth World Cup. Neymar no longer has to do all the heavy lifting and in striker Richarlison, who scored both goals in the victory to make it nine goals in his past seven internationals, Brazil has a cutting edge to go along with all that skill.
Spain's Marco Asensio celebrates scoring a goal against Costa Rica with Dani Olmo, right, on Nov. 23.CARL RECINE/Reuters
Spain
Now passing with real purpose, this version of Spain is a long way removed from the 2010 version, when it set the record for fewest goals scored en route to a World Cup crown with eight in seven games. It took just 90 minutes for Luis Enrique’s team to get within one of that mark in Qatar, putting seven past Costa Rica on Wednesday. Potentially lost in the scoring binge was midfielder Gavi, at 18 years 110 days becoming the youngest World Cup goal scorer since Pele in 1958. Fewer sideways passes means forging a more direct path to goal, and the results are clear for the world to see.
England's Harry Kane controls the ball against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on Nov. 21.Abbie Parr/The Associated Press
England
Results hadn’t been kind going into the World Cup for last year’s European championship runner-up, with the team winless in six. Any hangover was quickly dispelled thanks to a comfortable stroll in the park loosely billed as a World Cup match against Iran. Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, at 19 and 21 the two youngest players on the squad, leading the way to a 6-2 rout and setting up tougher tests to come.
France's Theo Hernandez controls the ball against Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium on Nov. 22.Thanassis Stavrakis/The Associated Press
France
Shorn of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, as well as midfield pivots N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, all missing through injury, the defending world champions were supposed to be in trouble. The gloom certainly descended when Australia took the lead inside 10 minutes on Tuesday. But with Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud leading the way, France turned on the style, rolling to a 4-1 victory and showing everyone it isn’t ready to cede its crown anytime soon.
PRETENDERS
Germany's Niklas Süle controls the ball against Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on Nov. 23.STUART FRANKLIN/Getty Images
Germany
Eight years is a long time in soccer. In 2014, the Germans routed Brazil and edged Argentina to win their fourth World Cup. In 2022, Die Mannschaft kicked off its campaign with a 2-1 loss to Japan, the team’s third loss in its past four World Cup games, having lost two of its three in Russia four years ago and finishing bottom of its Group. A second successive first-round elimination beckons after Wednesday’s opening upset.
Belgium's Michy Batshuayi scores against Canada at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Nov. 23.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Belgium
The golden generation is looking rusty. With half of its squad north of 28, the world’s second-ranked team was made to look very ordinary in its opening game against Canada, playing in its first World Cup in 36 years. Though it won the game, thanks to a long ball down the middle that was converted by Michy Batshuayi, the Red Devils looked anything but convincing, and a repeat of the country’s best finish – third place four years ago – is looking unlikely.
Uruguay's Guillermo Varela, left, and South Korea's Kim Jin-su run with the ball at the Education City Stadium on Nov. 24.JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Uruguay
The two-time World Cup winners have been on a roll in 2022, winning seven of their nine games going into Qatar – although a largely first-string lineup did lose to Iran two months ago. However, an attack featuring stars Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez was unable to find a way past South Korea’s goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu in Thursday’s World Cup opener, and despite Federico Valverde hitting the post late on, there are no prizes for nearly. With games against Portugal and Ghana to come, Uruguay has a fight on its hands to qualify for the knockout rounds.
THE JURY’S STILL OUT
Lionel Messi of Argentina holds the ball against Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on Nov. 22Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Argentina
Much of the talk going in was of Lionel Messi securing his place at Muhammad Ali’s right hand by winning the World Cup he needed to secure his ascension to sporting immortality. After one of the biggest tournament upsets in history in a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Argentina is very much at risk of missing the knockout rounds altogether. But with the talent level on offer in this year’s Argentina squad, don’t bet against Messi leading his team past Mexico and Poland and into the last 16.
Frenkie de Jong of Netherlands controls the ball against Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium on Nov. 21.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The Netherlands
Unbeaten in 15 games since last year’s European championship, the Dutch went into the World Cup as one of the favourites. But they made hard work of their opening game against a Senegal side without star forward Sadio Mané. Despite winning 2-0 Monday with a pair of late goals, the Oranje look as though they are in need of some time on the training ground to gel the team.
Rafael Leao of Portugal battles for possession with Tariq Lamptey of Ghana at Stadium 974 on Nov. 24.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Portugal
Manchester United may no longer be willing to tolerate Ronaldo’s me-first attitude – there’s no i in team, unless you spell it in Portuguese (o time) – but he’s still very much the centre of attention for the country of his birth. Ronaldo became the first male player to score in five World Cups with his 118th international goal Thursday, helping Portugal to a 3-2 victory over Ghana. Portugal was made to work for its win, and tougher tests will reveal what this team is made of.
Alphonso Davies of Canada controls the ball against Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Nov. 23.Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Canada
Granted, nobody outside of the Canadian camp has even a passing notion of the Maple Leaf flag being displayed before the World Cup final on Dec. 18, but the country’s first game at this stage in 36 years went some way to putting nagging doubts to bed. Yes, this team can compete at this level, even against some of the more vaunted men’s teams on the planet. However, despite 22 shots, the team was as feckless in front of goal as the 1986 vintage, and now holds the unenviable record of most games at the World Cup without scoring, passing China, Congo DR and Trinidad and Tobago.