Everyone already has a game to call their own in the World Cup. And after the 24 initial clashes spread across the 12 groups in the first phase, some teams impressed more than others. Much more.
Six columnists from Sheet named their favorite teams after the first round of the competition, and everyone mentioned England, but in different positions in the top 5.
Four of the six columnists placed England at the top after the 4-2 victory against Croatia, in Group L. For PVC, the English Team demonstrated “tactical repertoire with set pieces, ball possession and aerial play”, he assessed. The columnist also highlighted the participation of Harry Kane and Elliot Anderson. “Great.”
Marina Izidro also recalled the rival’s difficulty. “England produced one of their most exciting games to date, beating Croatia consistently in a difficult debut.”
In second place was the current runner-up, France, the favorite of two columnists after the 3-1 victory against Senegal, built in the second half.
Top 5 best selections so far
- England
- France
- Argentina
- Germany
- USA
Source: vote by Sandro Macedo, PVC, Luís Curro, Hanuska Bertoia, Marcelo Bechler and Marina Izidro
“They were strong in all positions, harmonized, with Mbappé decisive and a candidate for top scorer in the World Cup”, commented Izidro, who points to Les Bleus as favorites for the title.
Hanuska Bertoia agrees with the French strength, despite the faltering start. “After a slow first half against Senegal, Mbappé and company showed what they came for,” he said.
Messi’s solo show in the 3-0 against Algeria put Argentina close to the French on the podium. “If Messi plays what he did against Algeria in his debut, and counts on the referee’s complacency (he spared him from expulsion at the beginning of the game), the Argentines see the chance of the four-timer growing”, commented Luís Curro.
For Marcelo Bechler, in short, “Argentina and France are highlights for presenting what is expected of them. England surprised with better football than expected.”
The opponent’s fragility ended up interfering in the evaluation of Germany’s performance, only fourth in the columnists’ average. After all, 7-1 doesn’t impress anyone around here anymore — against Curaçao, so…
“Still, it was a “good first impression after eliminations in the first phase in the last two World Cups”, recalls Izidro. Is Curaçao a weak team? Yes. But Spain and Portugal stopped in the also theoretically fragile Cape Verde and DR Congo. The Germans played seriously and convinced”, assessed Curro.
Completing the top 5 is one of the home teams, the United States, who defeated Paraguay in Los Angeles, 4 to 1. “Speed and width of the field used by Dest, on the right, and Pulisic, on the left” were pointed out as an imbalance factor in favor of the Americans by PVC. “Pochettino doesn’t have the best players, but he wants the best collective game,” concluded the columnist.
Other selections were remembered by columnists. Hanuska liked the Japanese team’s football in the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The first two placed in this group cross with the leader and vice-leader of the Brazilian team group.
Curro liked Sweden, who scored 5-1 in Tunisia with their attacking duo Isak and Gyokeres, as well as young Ayari. PVC cited Ivory Coast, and Bechler, Morocco.
Evidently, after the disappointing debut of Carlo Ancelotti’s team (1-1 against Morocco, in New Jersey), none of the six columnists dared to mention Brazil, including this humble scribe.
