World Cup Power Rankings: Every team rated and slated after second group game

The contenders are beginning to separate themselves. Well, two are.

Brazil and France appear to be the teams to beat following the second round of games, with Spain still the next best despite being pegged back by an unconvincing Germany and Portugal being the only other side with two wins.

England’s reality check against the USA has tempered their expectations, while dark horse prediction Netherlands are among those set to advance with plenty of doubts around their ability to make a deep run.

Then there are the stinkers - led by hosts Qatar and trailed by boring Tunisia and an ageing Wales.

Group-by-group here is how Mirror Football has evaluated all 32 nations so far.

Group A

Netherlands - Not especially impressive in drawing with Ecuador, despite leading through Cody Gakpo's impressive strike off his weaker foot, and those who reckoned the Oranje were outside shouts to go the distance may be revising their opinions. 6/10

Ecuador - From what we have seen so far they should just about have too much for Senegal but their reliance on former West Ham and Everton forward Enner Valencia for goals will eventually be their downfall in this tournament. 5/10

Senegal - It was always going to be an uphill battle once Sadio Mane was ruled out through injury but the most concerning aspect of the win over Qatar was how defensively open they seemed once taking the lead. An improvement is required to get the win required to make it into the round of 16. 4/10

Qatar - At least they scored, which should ease some embarrassment. Comfortably beaten once again, though, and it would be an even bigger shock than those witnessed in the past week if they were to defeat the Dutch. 1/10

Group B

England - It was an awful watch but the scoreless draw with the USA did not warrant such an overreaction. Luckily for Gareth Southgate and most of his players, they have been in this exact position before and ended up reaching the European Championship final. Expect some but not wholesale changes tonight and the restoration of positivity to overcome the scoreless draw. 7/10

USA - Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie stood out as they disrupted the flow of England's midfield last Friday but more is needed from star man Christian Pulisic if they are to edge past Iran. Presuming a second-place finish, they could even sneak past the Netherlands in the round of 16 before losing a quarter-final. 6/10

Iran - They have been compelling since the start due to the off-field situation and the emotion of the Wales win was one of the tournament's standout moments. But repeating such an intense performance again seems a tall order even if it comes against the opposition they love to hate the most. 5/10

Wales - The goals may have arrived late but Rob Page's team were outfought for the majority of the defeat to Iran and should have no complaints. Reaching this stage was a big achievement but they have only played well for one of four halves. 3/10

Group C

Argentina - Much better in the second half against Mexico and Enzo Fernandez has been a breakout young player, yet there remains the sense that they are little more than a one-man team. Take away Lionel Messi and this is not a side capable of a deep run. The wild celebrations that greeted beating El Tri pointed to a side getting too high too early. Need to win against Poland because a draw would leave them reliant on assistance in the other match. 6/10

Poland - Robert Lewandowski finally has his World Cup goal and despite needing Wojciech Szczesny heroics in the first half they were better than Saudi Arabia. A draw against Argentina is enough to advance and while not the most pleasing team on the eye there are few attacks in Qatar who will relish the prospect of breaking them down. 6/10

Saudi Arabia - The task for Herve Renard's team is simple: beat Mexico and they go through. And considering their opponents' lack of quality that seems less than a longshot. At the same time a knockout win seems beyond the realms of possibility. 5/10

Mexico - Still looking to score a goal, OK defensively and dreadfully boring to watch for the neutral. Yet they are still in with a shout of progressing if they can beat Saudi Arabia and Argentina lose to Poland. 3/10

Group D

France - The reigning champions are the standout performers so far and the world's best player, Kylian Mbappe, looks to be at the top of his game. Questions around the inexperience of their midfield are being answered and they are defensively solid despite injury absences. To lose they will need to underperform significantly. 9/10

Denmark - Beat Australia and they are through. That seems a highly likely outcome and there were positives to take from defeat to France - though that failure to break down Tunisia in their opening game leaves questions for any knockout tie. 5/10

Australia - Rugged and effective against Tunisia with Harry Souttar’s defending impressing. But will be underdogs against Denmark and probably on their way home. 4/10

Tunisia - The least interesting team in the tournament. Yet to score, they have conceded just once and will need to come up with magic against an incredibly complacent France to leave with a result. 3/10

Group E

Spain - Being pegged back by Germany has done little to alter their status and the impact of Alvaro Morata off the bench has been a pleasant surprise. Should ease past Japan but even a draw is enough to progress. That game will be about building momentum. 8/10

Germany - Hansi Flick's team were a bit better in Sunday evening's game but were reliant upon a player who has spent most of his career in the Bundesliga second tier to rescue them from an embarrassing early exit. Rumours of a fractured squad, with Ilkay Gundogan upsetting the Bayern Munich contingent, linger but this is Germany and only the ignorant would totally rule their chances out. 6/10

Japan - What a crash. After the high of a deserved win against Germany, the quality of performance against Costa Rica was so disappointing. Arrogant, some observers claimed, as their moment to seal progress was spurned. Now they need to get at least a draw against Spain. 4/10

Costa Rica - One shot on target, one goal: you cannot fault their efficiency. But this ageing group really won because of Japan's complacency and they will be barely a footnote in the history of this tournament. 2/10

Group F

Croatia - That was much better. Having looked heavy-legged and, well, old against Morocco there was more zest to their play from early on against Canada, perhaps helped by falling behind. 6/10

Morocco - What a joy to see them defeat Belgium. Hakim Ziyech, who has never got going at Chelsea, excelled against Roberto Martinez’s ageing flops. They should be too good for Canada but a likely round of 16 tie against Spain should prove too steep a task. 6/10

Belgium - A dismal showing so far, following up a grind against Canada with an entirely deserved defeat to Morocco. Beat Croatia and they will advance but regardless there are too many passengers who will be eyeing up imminent retirement, consigning their underachieving golden generation to the past. The fear is so few new players stepping up - especially in defence. 3/10

Canada - It was entertaining for those of us without an affiliation to any team in this group but John Herdman appeared to talk his team into trouble and all that is left to play for against Morocco is pride. Still deserve credit for their approach, especially against Belgium, but an absence of quality up top has been costly. 3/10

Group G

Brazil - Six points from six, yet to face a shot on target. But the fact they have not wiped the floor with stern Switzerland and Serbia defences are supposedly reason to doubt their ability to win the whole thing. Nonsense. Along with France a level above the rest with Spain the next best. Irrespective of Neymar's presence. 9/10

Switzerland - Solid performance against Brazil and did not spend the entire 90 minutes defending. Decider against Serbia has even more riding on it considering the history between the teams. Will Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri be on their best behaviour? 5/10

Cameroon - Fought back impressively to earn a point against Serbia but the fact they must beat Brazil in their final game all but rules out progression. 4/10

Serbia - Threw it away against Cameroon and yet a win over Switzerland, presuming Brazil make it three from three, would send them through. They do a fine job of reaching World Cups only to flatter to deceive once on stage. 4/10

Group H

Portugal - It remains hard not to feel the Cristiano Ronaldo show is a distraction despite putting back to back wins together. Looked defensively stronger against Uruguay but not as convincing as France or Brazil. 7/10

Ghana - Showed impressive fight to retake the lead in thriller against Korea and a draw should be enough in their final group game to get them through. But the opposition is a familiar one… 6/10

Uruguay - Luis Suarez couldn’t, could he? No, probably not. The striker was dropped to the bench against Portugal but just imagine the reaction if he comes back in and defeats Ghana to send them through. The South Americans would still need Portugal to avoid defeat against South Korea to advance. 4/10

South Korea - Too passive in allowing Ghana to get in front only to fight back and then let slip again. When the dust settles they may rue Son's facial injury, meaning he is far off his best, but regardless of their star man's condition there has not been enough from others. 3/10