With matchday one of the World Cup done and dusted, the favourites have quite some catching up to do. Some like France and Uruguay struggled in victory, while others like Brazil and Argentina were poor in their draws. Russia and Egypt played their second matches, with the hosts coming out 3-1 victors.

Holders Germany actually lost 1-0 to Mexico and will face elimination unless they can beat Sweden, a task which will not be easy. So how did each of the fancied teams in this competition get along in their openers?

Uruguay

Los Charruas just about scraped a win against Egypt but will be confident of getting a second against the group’s whipping boys, Saudi Arabia.

The combination of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani misfired against the Pharoahs, especially the former, but the real reason for counting them as favourites isn’t their attack but rather their defence. They need to get the two forwards closer together to get them firing again.

Going forward

Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez form a tough guy-tougher guy duo at the heart of defence and from the looks of matchday one, could be the best defensive pairing at the World Cup. Uruguay need only one goal per game if their defence can hold tight. Remember, Spain scored only 8 goals en route to victory in South Africa but conceded only one.

Portugal

It’s safe to say that Fernando Santos’ men will be the happier team after the Iberian derby. Cristiano Ronaldo struck thrice, and that is a huge positive for them but the rest of the support cast needs to come together now.

Goncalo Guedes, a winger by trade, was asked to start in front alongside Ronaldo but he could be sacrificed for Andre Silva against Morocco. Bernardo Silva looks like he could come in handy, but his lack of pace means that he is better utilised in the hole and not out wide.

Going forward

The formation is a major puzzle, as Santos used six different set-ups in France as Portugal drew and scraped games to an Euro title. That could very well be the template in Russia but he will have to find a strike partner for the captain. Andre Silva, coming off a season where he started only seven games but nonetheless with a record of 12 goals in 24 for Portugal, could be the man.

Spain

La Roja will be bitterly disappointed with a single point against their neighbours when all three were there for the taking.

Diego Costa showed glimpses of the strongman characteristic that he brings to this team, and he could be vital to a good showing in Russia. Fernando Hierro made a few errors in selection, but it is interesting to see if he persists with the Koke-Andres Iniesta-Sergio Busquets trio.

Going forward

Thiago Alcantara is the obvious inclusion, but which of the three will make way for the Bayern Munich man, if and when Hierro decides he wants a faster build-up? Also, will Hierro persist with Nacho or will Cesar Azpilicueta finally get his deserved chance on the big stage?

France

On the face of it, a 2-1 win over Australia seems perfectly alright, with three points on the board to get the French engine up and running.

The result masks the ineffectual displays of many of the starting XI against the Socceroos, with Didier Deschamps openly questioning Antoine Griezmann’s antics on the eve of the World Cup. The front three failed to link up with the midfield, with too much space between the two banks of Frenchmen.

Going forward

Les Blues struggled for cohesion in their opener but Corentin Tolisso could still be the difference maker alongside N’golo Kane with Paul Pogba dropped back to midfield. Griezmann was central against Australia, but could Kylian Mbappe be trusted through the middle?

Argentina

Dreary, ineffective display against Iceland on their World Cup debut. Lionel Messi missed a penalty, but barring Sergio Aguero’s goal, received little to no help from the rest.

Angel di Maria was missing for long stretches, as Marcos Rojo and Nicolas Otamendi received many an initial shock before eventually conceding the equaliser. Messi was once again, easily the most creative of the Argentina players and Jorge Sampaoli may opt for a target man for the rest of the group stage.

Going forward

They need a creative force. If Messi is entrusted with the responsibility of creation, then more firepower has to be added up front. Either way, something’s gotta give in attack.

Brazil

Bright start, but fell apart once they conceded the equaliser against the Swiss. Neymar came in for some heavy-handedness from the opposition, but the PSG star should expect more of that during this World Cup.

Phil Coutinho’s goal aside, very little to write about their opening draw. Fred could be the man to re-ignite the spark in midfield with Gabriel Jesus receiving little to no service in the opener. Pre-tournament favourites but opponents are ready to stonewall and hack the Samba boys down if required.

Going forward

Brazil’s attacking others need to start pressurising the opposition up front in order to create time and space for Neymar. Jesus started but Roberto Firmino could be well worth a punt from the start, for Tite.

Germany

Possibly the worst display in a major tournament during the 12 years of Joachim Low’s reign. Carved apart time and again, they should be thankful to the footballing gods and poor Mexican finishing to spare them from an embarrassment.

Too many positions for Low to sort out, starting with the midfield. Sami Khedira must go, with Sebastian Rudy, Ilkay Gundogan and Leon Goretzka on the sidelines, each is a better option to replace the Juventus man.

The centre-backs were isolated too often, with the full-backs high up against a pacy attack. Low himself must take some of the blame for his bizarre tactics. The last two holders went out in the group stages, will Germany follow suit?

Going forward

A change in midfield, a change at the heart of defence, possibly a change in playmaker from the underwhelming Mesut Ozil. A total train-wreck at the Luzhniki, Low needs to cut out all the sentimentalism and be hard-nosed. NOW.

Belgium

Started slowly against Panama, but finished on a high against the minnows from Concacaf. A superb volley from Dries Mertens to break the deadlock, but Romelu Lukaku chipped in with two goals.

Kevin de Bruyne looked unsettled but Roberto Martinez knows that one win would reduce the last match against England to a dead rubber. The Red Devils’ first major challenge will come in the knockout rounds, something Martinez and his team are well aware of.

Going forward

The Red Devils need to start faster, with de Bruyne playing a more advanced role. The perfect player for Martinez in midfield would have been a certain Radja Nainggolan but he’s at home. Will the Manchester City man’s shackles be removed?

England

The Three Lions started at a breakneck pace against Tunisia, but then a penalty threatened to expose old frailties.

Gareth Southgate is a sharp cookie, and he will know that Raheem Sterling was less than effective against the North Africans. Thankfully for him and England, captain Harry Kane has carried his rich vein of end-of-season form over to the national side and his two goals salvaged the day.

They should wrap up passage against Panama, they certainly wouldn’t want to come up against Belgium in order to try and progress.

Going forward

Southgate needs to get his players to keep the rhythm in the middle stages. They lost their way at the start of the second half, and Marcus Rashford could provide greater intensity than Sterling did. Kyle Walker needs to head the ball more and manhandle the opposition less.