9. England
For a rare time in recent memory there has been a freedom and vibrancy about the way England have played at a World Cup. It’s helped coach Gareth Southgate hasn’t been afraid to maximize what he has.
Specifically, Southgate has built a team geared to using its pace. It’s a quality the Three Lions have in abundance thanks to Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard, as well as wing-backs Ashley Young and Kieran Trippier.
Southgate has wisely positioned his players in a 3-5-2 shape to encourage width and fluid movement. Those qualities offer the ideal complement to the ruthless finishing of predatory center-forward Harry Kane.
Tottenham’s marquee man has found goals easy to come by, while giving England the efficiency needed to navigate the knockout rounds of a tournament. Kane will fancy his chances against Colombia.
Southgate’s defence still looks as though it has a mistake in it. Yet the willingness to trust Harry Maguire and John Stones underlines how much the Three Lions have been refreshed internationally.