Goal ranks all of the contenders for the top spot on the podium at this summer's women's soccer tournament in Japan

Getty8Japan | Last time: 7th

Japan played plenty of their typical free-flowing football in the build-up to this tournament, but not much of it has been on display since the Games got underway.

After difficult matches against Canada, a 1-1 draw, and Great Britain, a 1-0 defeat, they showed the best glimpses of it yet in their final clash with Chile, but struggled for the clinical touch at the end of it all, in a 1-0 win.

They will need to up their level in the final third should they want to challenge for a medal on home soil, particularly with an incredibly tough quarter-final against Sweden to come.

AdvertisementGetty7Canada | Last time: 8th

Given the talent throughout Canada's squad, their tournament so far has been underwhelming.

They were undone by a simple long ball in their draw with Japan and almost conceded a late equaliser against Chile, though a heavily rotated team almost got the job done against an equally much-changed Great Britain side in the final group game.

That sets up a difficult quarter-final against Brazil, who they have struggled against in recent meetings.

However, the South American side had their defensive issues in the group stages and Canada will hope to continue to grow into the competition as the games come, particularly with the experience in their ranks.

They certainly have the talent to be able to do so, too.

Getty6Australia | Last time: 6th

After the Covid-19 pandemic heavily impacted their preparation for the Olympics, Australia have grown as the tournament has gone on and go into the knockout rounds as a serious dark horse.

After beating New Zealand and pushing Sweden – who beat the U.S. women's national team 3-0 – all the way, they secured a goalless draw against the U.S. which could have been a victory, with 18-year-old starlet Mary Fowler hitting the bar.

They face a Great Britain side in the next round who have shown glimpses of what they can do, but the Matildas will certainly fancy their chances, particularly with talent such as Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter in their ranks.

Getty5Great Britain | Last time: 5th

After starting the tournament with a wonderful performance against Chile, which defied pre-Games concerns about whether this team could gel quickly enough, Great Britain lost their sparkle against Japan and Canada.

The latter fixture did see them put out a heavily rotated team, though, and they still managed to get four points from the two fixtures.

Team GB face Australia in the next round, which will not be an easy task, but given this team wants to win a gold medal, it will be one they expect themselves to overcome.