Plenty of contenders delivered performances that fell short of expectations. France looked vulnerable for the first 45 minutes and unstoppable for the next 45. Brazil seemed uncertain of its identity. Spain appears heavily dependent on two young stars working their way back from injury. Portugal carries a Cristiano Ronaldo dilemma that is impossible to ignore. Belgium and the Netherlands both dropped points in matches they were expected to win.
Some established powers looked exactly as advertised. Lionel Messi reminded the world why Argentina remains a contender. England looked liberated under Thomas Tuchel. Germany scored seven goals. The United States may have produced the most complete World Cup performance in its modern history with a 4-1 win over Paraguay.
With knockout-stage stakes still ahead, these are among the biggest questions emerging from the opening week:
- Will England's newfound courage carry over into the knockouts? England beat Croatia 4-2, and Harry Kane credited Thomas Tuchel for a rousing halftime speech that sparked a dominant second half. After Jude Bellingham's goal put England up 3-2 less than three minutes into the second half, the team kept pressing rather than retreating into old cautious habits. England generated 0.59 non-penalty expected goals in the opening 45 minutes and 1.83 after halftime, carving up a Croatian defense that had struggled to contain their movement in transition. Based on the opener, England stands out as one of the rightful three or four favorites to win the tournament, though maintaining that courage when stakes rise again in the knockout stage remains the test.
- Can the U.S. aggressive midfield strategy survive against better opponents? The United States thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in one of the most impressive opening-round performances of the tournament. Manager Mauricio Pochettino pushed his central players high up the pitch, trusted them to make runs behind Paraguay's defensive line, and encouraged them to press relentlessly at every opportunity. Against Paraguay, it worked perfectly. The Americans dominated territory, created multiple big chances through those tactics, and cruised. Whether that approach holds up against stronger opposition is now the central question for USMNT fans who saw a performance that felt new compared with the doom and gloom that had followed the team over the past two years.
- Can France reconcile a vulnerable first half with an unstoppable second? France's split performance in its opener suggests the team may still be sorting out how consistently it can perform across a full 90 minutes.
- What is Brazil's identity? Brazil appeared uncertain of exactly who it is after its first-round showing, leaving open how the five-time champion defines itself as the tournament progresses.
- Can Spain succeed while leaning on two young stars returning from injury? Spain's early form appears heavily tied to those players finding full fitness and rhythm.
- How does Portugal resolve the Cristiano Ronaldo dilemma? Ronaldo's role and impact remain an unavoidable talking point around Portugal's campaign.
- Can Belgium bounce back after dropping points in a match it was expected to win? Belgium's result raised immediate questions about its path through the group stage and beyond.
- Can the Netherlands recover after dropping points in a match it was expected to win? Like Belgium, the Netherlands failed to take all three points in a fixture where it entered as the favorite.
- Can Lionel Messi and Argentina sustain the form that reminded the world they remain contenders? Messi's opener reinforced Argentina's championship credentials, but the long road ahead will test whether that level holds.
- Can Germany keep the momentum from a seven-goal opening performance? Germany's attack looked devastating in its first match, and the question is whether that output continues against tougher defenses.
England's shift under Tuchel has drawn the sharpest contrast so far with the cautious approach fans grew used to under Gareth Southgate. For years, England often retreated into a defensive shell after gaining an advantage, prioritizing solidity and risk avoidance over ambition. Southgate's approach delivered respectable tournament finishes, but it also produced soccer that rarely seemed to match the talent on the field and routinely invited lesser opponents back into matches.
He told us to take the shackles off, calm down and let's go. He said, 'What's the worst that can happen? Show the world who we can be.'
Thomas Tuchel 't be drawing Winston Churchill comparisons anytime soon, but Kane said that message resonated because it cut directly against England's instincts. After one week of group play, fans tracking the tournament will be watching whether England's courage, the USMNT's high-pressing midfield, and the other contenders trying to discover exactly who they are can answer these questions before the knockout stage arrives.
