Women's World Cup 2023 Power Rankings: England's Lionesses slip to seventh as rampant Japan take top spot

Last time: 3rd

It hasn't been pretty from Sweden in this tournament so far but they won all three group games and dispatched of the United States, the world champions, in the last 16. Their confidence is sky high.

Peter Gerhardsson's team will need to improve as we get to the latter stages, though. Bar spells in the 5-0 thrashing of Italy, which was a victory largely inspired by set pieces, they've not looked fluid and consistently threatening going forward.

Last time: 1st

After grinding out 1-0 wins in their opening two games, England sent a message to the rest of the tournament with an emphatic 6-1 victory over China, the Asian champions, on Tuesday.

But then a massively underwhelming goalless draw and subsequent penalty shoot-out win over Nigeria left many pondering just what the Lionesses' chances of winning this tournament are. It's been a mixed bag so far, with plenty of room for improvement.

Last time: 7th

There were so many questions around Spain going into this tournament. How would the players returning from their protest settle into the wider group? Would everything click right away? Would it take time?

In three of their four games, La Roja have answered all of those questions emphatically. However, a 4-0 defeat to Japan in their final group game highlighted a number of flaws that top-class opposition can expose. It'll be extremely interesting to see how they fare against the Netherlands in the last eight, then, after dispatching of Switzerland in the last 16 with ease.

Last time: 8th

Colombia caused the shock of the tournament so far when they defeated Germany in Sydney on Sunday, scoring a 97th-minute winner to do so. The South American side look defensively solid, clever in how they use the ball and dangerous going forward.

They did struggle to come back from that incredible high in their third game, losing to Morocco, but still topped Group H and managed to score against a Jamaica side that hadn't conceded all tournament in their 1-0 last-16 win. They look strong in all areas.

Last time: 6th

The start of this tournament was a nightmare for Australia. On the day of their opener, captain Sam Kerr was ruled out of the first two games and then they threw away the lead against Nigeria to lose in pretty disappointing fashion.

But the Matildas dispatched Olympic champions Canada in emphatic fashion to not only progress to the last 16 but win Group B, too, then welcomed Kerr back in a comfortable 2-0 win over Denmark in the last 16. The power of a nation behind them shouldn't be underestimated, either...

Last time: 4th

After the disappointment of their goalless draw with Jamaica, France needed to bounce back immediately and they did so against an in-form Brazil side. Les Bleues were really impressive in the first half and showed in spells just why they can be a contender at this tournament.

Ending the group stage with a chaotic 6-3 win over Panama, they set up a last-16 clash with Morocco that saw them once again assert their authority on the big stage. They're warming up quite nicely.

Last time: 5th

Runners-up in 2019, the Netherlands are looking very, very good as we get to the quarter-finals. Their 3-5-2 set-up has made them not only defensively solid but a real force going forward, too, with two very attacking wing-backs.

With just one goal conceded in their first four games and 11 scored, they're going to take some stopping.

Last time: 2nd

They couldn't, could they?! The 2011 World Cup winners, Japan have looked brilliant so far in this tournament. Their eye-catching style has been matched by end product, with 14 goals goals scored in their first four games.

It was difficult to judge how good the Nadeshiko were on their wins over Zambia and Costa Rica, but the emphatic dispatch of Spain was a huge statement and they out-classed a talented, though dysfunctional, Norway in the knockouts, too.

Futoshi Ikeda has shown his qualities as a coach and this clockwork-like team has been clinical. They could be in for quite a tournament...