The group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is winding down. With teams already punching their tickets into the knockout stage and some battling to get there in their final group match, FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas shared his second batch of power rankings for the tournament on Monday evening.
The second stage of group play featured even more exciting action than the opening stage, causing Lalas to jumble his rankings a bit. The biggest riser was Sweden, which moved up several spots following its win over Italy. France also joined the top 10 after being unranked in the first version of the in-tournament power rankings.
Alexi Lalas updates his Power Rankings after the USWNT’s draw against Portugal
The United States fell three spots to No. 8 after its shocking scoreless draw with Portugal that drew heavy criticism toward the two-time defending World Cup champions.
“After that abysmal performance, I had them out of the top 10, and then I thought, ‘You know what, that’s kind of punitive,'” Lalas said. “It’s still the No. 1 team in the world.I can’t quit you, U.S., despite what you did in this group stage.”
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Lalas said the Netherlands, who won Group E over the USWNT, were his first team out, as he gave the edge to Australia and No. 10 after the Matildas beat defending Olympic gold medalist Canada and eliminated it from the group stage. The Dutch stomped Vietnam 7-0 for a resounding group stage finale Tuesday.
Here are Lalas’s latest rankings of his top 10 teams in the World Cup so far, along with each squads’ record to this point.
1. Japan (3-0-0): Japan dominated Group C, finishing off with a stunning 4-0 throttling of fellow heavyweight Spain to take the group’s top spot.
2. Sweden (2-0-0): The Swedes punished a solid Italy team after defeating South Africa, 2-1, and currently hold a healthy lead atop Group G.
3. Spain (2-0-1): Spain endured a stunning beatdown against Japan in its Group C finale after looking like arguably the best team in the tournament in outscoring opponents 8-0 over its first two games. That was still enough to get the squad through to the knockout stage.
2. Germany (1-0-1): Despite Colombia‘s monumental upset over Germany, the Germans still hold a healthy goal differential and seem poised to advance thanks to its earlier 6-0 win over Morocco.
Alexi Lalas reacts to Linda Caicedo’s UNREAL goal against Germany
5. France (1-1-0): The French bounced back following a surprising opening match draw to Jamaica, beating Brazil 2-1. France leads Group F.
6. Brazil (1-0-1): Brazil fell several spots following its loss to France. But it won its opening match against Panama, 4-0, meaning it can advance and continue Marta‘s last World Cup dance if it beats Jamaica.
7. England (2-0-0): The Lionesses fall two spots after their 1-0 win over Denmark. Even though the English have won both matches by just one goal each, they sit atop Group D and control their own destiny heading into Tuesday’s group-stage finale against China.
‘We’re so adaptable as individuals and as a team’ – Lucy Bronze talks England’s strengths versus China
8. United States (1-1-0): The Americans fell even further in Lalas’ rankings following a very underwhelming scoreless draw against Portugal. The USA still advanced out of Group E, but still appear so weak that FOX Soccer’s Carli Lloyd said she would not even include them in the top 10 right now.
9. Colombia (2-0-0): Perhaps the biggest upset of this year’s tournament came in Columbia’s dramatic last-minute header off a corner kick to top heavyweight Germany, 2-1. Now, breakout star Linda Caicedo and Co. lead Group H and seem poised to enter the knockout stage.
10. Australia (2-0-1): Perhaps much more impressive than the host Matildas simply advancing to the group stage is the fact that they won Group B without star striker and captain Sam Kerr playing, dispatching a strong Canada side 4-0 in the group stage finale.
[Related: FOX Sports Insider Martin Rogers‘ Women’s World Cup power rankings]
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