1) France
It may seem a surprise to many, but Didier Deschamps’ France team have been the closest that this World Cup has to a team convincing enough both in their performances and the likelihood of them actually winning the tournament.
From the first two games, when they methodically dismantled Honduras and Switzerland, the French have looked like genuine contenders to pick up only their second World Cup title.
A insipid 0-0 draw against Ecuador in their final game was notable only for its irrelevance, but the French were back on form to see off Nigeria in the last sixteen once Deschamps made the decision to move top scorer Karim Benzema upfront.
It is fair to suggest that France are yet to face a genuinely world class team, but on current form it is hard to see past them beating Germany in their upcoming quarter final and firmly establishing themselves as potential winners.