By Dwayne Ferreira
With the World Cup now almost upon us, the final round of international friendlies has offered the first real glimpse of who may arrive at the tournament with rhythm, belief and attacking sharpness. These games are never just about the scoreline. They are about confidence, combinations, body language, tactical balance and whether the biggest names look ready to carry their nations when the pressure becomes unbearable. In that sense, Mexico, Belgium, Germany and Argentina have all sent early messages, while Brazil and England appear to be winning without yet reaching their most dangerous level.
Mexico may have delivered one of the loudest statements of the warm-up period. Their 5-1 victory over Serbia was not simply a comfortable win, it was the kind of performance that can lift a host nation before a major tournament. Raul Jiménez, Luis Chávez, Johan Vásquez, Brian Gutierrez and Julian Quiñones were all involved in a display that showed energy, attacking variety and confidence. Even after Serbia struck first, Mexico did not panic. They responded with control and force, suggesting that Javier Aguirre’s side may be emotionally and tactically ready for the weight of opening the tournament in front of their own supporters.
Germany also looks like a side beginning to sharpen at the right moment. Their win over the United States was built around early authority, with Kai Havertz scoring quickly before Leroy Sané eventually settled the match. Germany’s performance was not flawless, but it carried the familiar signs of a tournament team: efficiency, patience and the ability to punish opponents at decisive moments. For the USA, there were still positives. Antonee Robinson’s equaliser showed fight, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side competed well against elite opposition. But Germany looked like the more polished side when the game had to be won.
Belgium, meanwhile, may be one of the more quietly dangerous European teams entering the competition. Their recent 5-0 win over Tunisia, coming after a 2-0 victory over Croatia, suggests a team building momentum rather than merely completing preparation matches. Belgium have often carried the burden of expectation, but this version may benefit from arriving with slightly less global noise around them. If their attacking structure continues to click, they could become one of the teams nobody wants to meet too early.
Argentina remains perhaps the most reassuring of all the major contenders because their identity appears bigger than any one player, even Lionel Messi. Their 2-0 win over Honduras came without Messi and several other key names, yet Lautaro Martínez stepped forward with a goal and an assist. That matters. Argentina looked controlled, mature and comfortable in their system, which is exactly what defending champions need before a tournament. They do not have to be spectacular in June friendlies; they simply have to look like they know who they are.
Brazil are winning, but there is still a sense that the real version of this team has not fully appeared. Their 2-1 victory over Egypt gave them a useful test, with Bruno Guimarães and Endrick scoring, while Egypt showed enough resistance to make the game meaningful. Endrick is one of the names to watch because he brings that classic Brazilian excitement: youth, fearlessness and the possibility of a sudden tournament-defining moment. But Brazil’s opening match against Morocco will be a serious test, especially because Morocco’s own friendly against Norway showed both their threat and their weakness. Brahim Díaz scored early for Morocco, but Norway fought back through Martin Ødegaard and forced Morocco into heavy late defending.
England is harder to judge. A 1-0 win over New Zealand, settled by Harry Kane, is useful but not explosive. Kane being sharp is always important, because England’s tournament hopes still depend heavily on his finishing, leadership and ability to link play. But England supporters will want to see more attacking fluency before believing this side is ready to go deep. They have the names, the structure and the experience, but warm-up matches suggest they may still be operating in second gear.
Croatia remains Croatia: experienced, stubborn and capable of surviving uncomfortable moments. Their 2-1 win over Slovenia came late, with Mario Pašalić scoring in stoppage time after Luka Modrić had earlier opened the scoring in what may have been his final home international. Modrić remains the emotional centre of this team, and his presence alone gives Croatia a certain tournament gravity. But their defensive lapses, especially after also losing 2-0 to Belgium, suggest they may need to tighten quickly before facing stronger opposition.
The most interesting category may be the outsiders. Morocco still carry the memory of their 2022 semi-final run, and players like Brahim Díaz give them technical quality in dangerous areas. Egypt, even in defeat to Brazil, showed they can trouble bigger teams, especially with Mohamed Salah returning to the picture. Scotland have also built positive momentum, scoring freely in their warm-up matches, although injury concerns have slightly interrupted their rhythm. These are the teams that make a World Cup unpredictable: not always favourites, but capable of turning one strong night into a national story.
The early feeling from the friendlies is that Mexico and Belgium have momentum, Germany have authority, Argentina have calmness, Brazil have star power waiting to ignite, and England still have another level to find. The danger for every favourite is that the World Cup rarely rewards reputation alone. It rewards timing. And right now, the teams who look emotionally ready, tactically settled and brave enough to attack may be the ones who enter the tournament with the greatest advantage.
