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Here are the biggest stars you need to know for the world's greatest soccer tournament. USA TODAY Sports
MOSCOW — The opening matches of a World Cup always challenge so much about what we thought we knew about the best teams on earth, and so it has proven again.
Favorites have been held or humbled, outsiders have come from nowhere to upturn the form guide and, just five days since things kicked off, the landscape of many groups has tilted entirely from what was expected.
Here we take a timely opportunity, with every squad having now played at least once, to re-rank the 32 teams in order, taking into account form, the eye test, and their chances of making some headway.
1. France – Still has plenty in reserve.
2. Spain – Multiple attacking threats
3. Brazil – Shaky start won’t faze it
4. Belgium – Full of fire and confidence
5. Portugal – Ronaldo... unstoppable
6. England – Rode its luck and did enough
7. Mexico – Spectacular opening win
8. Uruguay – Poised and dangerous
9. Argentina – Unconvincing so far
10. Germany – How soon can it recover?
11. Russia – Flushed with new confidence
12. Croatia – Modric’s magic is the key
13. Senegal – A breath of fresh air
14. Denmark – Not to be taken lightly
15. Switzerland – Horrible to play against
16. Sweden – Big opportunity to move on
17. Serbia – Organized and determined
18. Poland – Disjointed and disappointing
19. Iceland – The dream lives on
20. Japan – Can dream start continue?
21. Colombia – Urgently needs a revival
22. Iran – Tougher challenges await
23. Egypt – Can Salah make a difference?
24. Peru – Awesome fans, but a tough road
25. Morocco – Best chance has already passed
26. Tunisia – Lacking in offensive fire
27. Nigeria – Struggling to adapt
28. South Korea – Needs a miracle
29. Costa Rica – Looked off the pace
30. Australia – Rugged but limited
31. Panama – Not up to elite level
32. Saudi Arabia – World Cup’s worst team
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Japan's Yuya Osako, center, scores his side's second goal against Colombia.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Japan's Yuya Osako, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Colombia.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Colombia players celebrate after scoring a goal against Japan.
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Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima fails to make a save as Colombia's Juan Quintero scores his side's opening goal.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the winning goal in England's 2-1 win over Tunisia in Volgograd, Russia.
FRANCIS R. MALASIG, EPA-EFE
England's Harry Kane scores his winning goal against Tunisia.
Alastair Grant, AP
Ferjani Sassi of Tunisia shoots and scores a penalty past Jordan Pickford of England.
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Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois catches the ball against Panama.
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Belgium's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after he scored his side's third goal against Panama.
Matthias Schrader, AP
Belgium's team celebrates after the win against Panama.
Matthias Schrader, AP
Axel Witsel of Belgium and Armando Cooper of Panama battle for the ball.
Friedemann Vogel, EPA-EFE
Sweden's defender Andreas Granqvist celebrates after converting a penalty to give his team the lead against South Korea.
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Sweden's Sebastian Larsson, goes up for a header against South Korea>
Pavel Golovkin, AP
Sweden's Viktor Claesson is challenged by South Korea's Lee Yong.
Pavel Golovkin, AP
South Korea's Kim Min-woo sits on the pitch at the end of the loss against Sweden.
Petr David Josek, AP
Swedish supporters celebrate after the win against South Korea.
Pavel Golovkin, AP
Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer can't stop a shot from Brazil's Philippe Coutinho.
Andre Penner, AP
Switzerland's Steven Zuber celebrates with teammates after scoring against Brazil.
Themba Hadebe, AP
Switzerland's Breel Embolo, left, and Brazil's Fernandinho collide going for the ball.
Andre Penner, AP
Brazil's Neymar during the draw against Switzerland.
Themba Hadebe, AP
Mexico defender Edson Alvarez celebrates after defeating Germany.
Tim Groothuis, Witters Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa celebrates after defeating Germany.
Tim Groothuis, Witters Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Germany forward Thomas Muller receives a yellow card against Mexico.
Tim Groothuis, Witters Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Mexico's Hirving Lozano celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Germany.
Tim Groothuis, Witters Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Germany forward Mario Gomez tries to get a shot off against Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
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Mexico forward Javier Hernandez battles for the ball with Germany defender Mats Hummels.
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Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic, left, tries to score past Costa Rica goalkeeper.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Serbia's players celebrate their opening goal against Costa Rica.
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Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Costa Rica.
Mark Baker, AP
Referee Malang Diedhiou and fourth official Bamlak Tessera Weyesa from Ethiopia go between Costa Rica and Serbia players as they argue.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas fails to stop Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov free kick.
Natacha Pisarenko, AP
Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates with fans after the 2-0 win against Nigeria.
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Croatia players celebrate after their second goal against Nigeria.
Petr David Josek, AP
Croatia's Dejan Lovren (L) vies for the ball with with Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel.
Attila Kisbenedek, AFP/Getty Images
Croatia scores teh opening goal against Nigeria.
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Yussuf Poulsen of Denmark celebrates scoring against Peru.
Erik S. Lesser, EPA-EFE
Peru's midfielder Christian Cueva is consoled by his teammates after missing a penalty against Denmark.
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Denmark's Simon Kjaer blocks the shot of Peru forward Jefferson Farfan.
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, left, looks on as Peru's Christian Cueva misses a penalty shot.
Martin Meissner, AP
Peru's Jefferson Farfan, left, and Denmark's Henrik Dalsgaard jump for a ball.
Efrem Lukatsky, AP
Denmark players celebrate after defeating Peru.
Gregorio Borgia, AP
Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson saves a penalty kick from Lionel Messi.
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Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson saves a penalty kick from Lionel Messi.
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Iceland celebrates a goal in the first half against Argentina.
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Iceland forward Alfred Finnbogason scores against Argentina.
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Iceland's Gylfi Sigurdsson kicks a corner kick against Argentina.
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Argentina's Sergio Aguero, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Iceland.
Victor Caivano, AP
France's Antoine Griezmann and Blaise Matuidi celebrate after defeating Australia.
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Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan fails to save the ball as France's Paul Pogba scores his side's second goal.
Hassan Ammar, AP
France's Paul Pogba and Australia's Mathew Leckie, challenge for the ball.
David Vincent, AP
France players celebrate after the opening goal against Australia..
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Uruguayan referee Carlos Cunha awards a penalty kick to Australia against France.
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Australia's Trent Sainsbury, center, kicks the ball in front of France's Kylian Mbappe.
Hassan Ammar, AP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after he scored his third goal with a free kick against Spain.
Frank Augstein, AP
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo fights for the ball with Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets.
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Spain's Nacho scores his side's third goal against Portugal.
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Spain's Diego Costa scores his second goal against Portugal.
Mohamed Messar, EPA-EFE
Cristiano Ronaldo goes up for a header against Spain.
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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo slides on his knees after scoring his second goal against Spain.
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Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Spain.
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Spain's Nacho fouls Cristiano Ronaldo, earning Portugal a penalty.
Francisco Seco, AP
Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi shows a yellow card to Spain's Sergio Busquets in the first half against Portugal.
Sergei Grits, AP
Spain's Diego Costa, center, vies for the ball with Portugal's Raphael Guerreiro and Jose Fonte.
Manu Fernandez, AP
Iranian players celebrate with their coach Carlos Queiroz after defeating Morocco.
Etienne Laurent, EPA-EFE
Morocco's forward Aziz Bouhaddouz is comforted as he reacts after scoring an own goal against Iran.
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Aziz Bouhaddouz of Morocco scores an own goal against Iran.
Georgi Licovski, EPA-EFE
Iran forward Karim Ansari Fard challenges Morocco's Noureddine Amrabat.
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Morocco fans cheer during the game against Iran.
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Iran's Ramin Rezaian fights for a header against Morocco's Mbarek Boussoufa.
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Iran fans cheer during the game against Morocco.
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Iranian players try to clear the ball against Morocco.
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Uruguay's Jose Gimenez, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Egypt.
Natacha Pisarenko, AP
Uruguay's Jose Gimenez scores past Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Ryan Pierse, Getty Images
Uruguay's Jose Gimenez scores on a header in the 89th minute against Egypt.
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Egypt's Marwan Mohsen vies for the ball with Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
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Uruguay's Luis Suarez reacts after missing an opportunity against Egypt.
Vadim Ghirda, AP
Uruguay fans celebrate during the win against Egypt.
Mark Baker, AP
Egypt's Marwan Mohsen vies for the ball with Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez.
Mahmoud Khaled, EPA-EFE
Denis Cheryshev of Russia celebrates after scoring his team's second goal of a 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.
Matthias Hangst
Saudi Arabia's Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (10) goes up for a header against Russia's Aleksandr Samedov during the World Cup opener in Moscow.
Tim Groothuis, Witters Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Russian president Vladimir Putin react during the opening match of the 2018 World Cup, a 5-0 Russia win over Saudi Arabia.
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Russian fans are pictured before the start of the FIFA World Cup in Moscow.
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Russian soprano Aida Garifullina performs during the opening ceremony before the 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
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English singer Robbie Williams performs during the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony.
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Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo waves to the crowd during the opening ceremony for the World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow.
Antonio Calanni, AP
Football fans from across the globe gather at the official FIFA Fan Fest at Moscow State University to watch the first World Cup game between Russia and Saudi Arabia in Moscow.
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Mascot Zabivaka entertains during the opening match of the World Cup.
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