But it is not merely a case of a temporary burst of patriotic fervour papering over the cracks in society
South America has lost four World Cups on the trot, including the current one in Russia; sad, for a continent known to have set benchmarks in the game
With young adults making for 28% of total viewership and women across age groups 47%; the World Cup hits the highs with both groups
Fifa World Cup 2018 has seen too many upsets. The semifinals might continue the trend
Harry Kane, Emil Forsberg, Dele Alli, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Alexsandr Golovin and Denis Cheryshev will brace the pitch in Fifa World Cup 2018 quarterfinal matches today in Russia
Croatia become the second team in World Cup history (after Argentina in 1990) to win two penalty shootouts in the same edition of the tournament
England advance to the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time since 1990 and will face either Russia or Croatia. Sweden bow out of the tournament but they were impressive in parts.
Fans have even fashioned themselves in the spirit of World Cup
Much like the end of the Durga Puja festival, the buzz in tea stalls, local sweet shops and fast food joints went missing
Ibrahimovic, Sweden's all-time top goalscorer, threw down the gauntlet to former England captain by offering to buy him dinner anywhere in the world if the Three Lions win on Saturday
England have lost just one match on course to their place in the quarter-finals and have displayed both free-flowing and resilient football, as per the need. But will that be enough?
"We all fell in love with Russia," Infantino told a beaming Putin at the televised meeting in the Kremlin
The first match of the quarterfinals will be played on June 6 between Uruguay and France while the last match of Quarterfinals will be played between Russia and Croatia
Argentina and Mexico had relatively old squads in the tournament with the average age being 29.3 and 29.4, respectively
Neymar and Luis Saurez will brace the pitch in Fifa World Cup 2018 quarterfinal matches today in Russia
Kevin De Bruyne's stunner and Fernandinho's own goal help Belgium shrug off Brazil to reach the semi-finals while the five-time champions return home with a sense of under-achievement.
The absence of Casemiro in the midfield saw Hazard and De Bruyne take Belgium into the semifinals as Brazil suffer yet another heart-break
France became the first team to reach the World Cup semi-finals as goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann gave them a deserved 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday.
France will take on Suarez and Cavani led Uruguay in the first quarterfinal of Fifa World Cup 2018
Brazil and Mexico knockout match will be played in Samara Arena