The battlelines are drawn. Right after the centenary of the October revolution, Russia drew back eyeballs from across the world with the draw of lots for the FIFA World Cup.
And yes, expect those eyeballs to remain there until the 32-day-long the football domination saga isn't over on 15 July next year.
But first things first – here's how the 32 teams were eventually drawn into the stipulated eight groups:
Here they are! The groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia! ๐ท๐บ๐
— #WorldCupDraw ๐ (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017
Which game are you most looking forward to?! ๐#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/CYBTaqkgpF
Hosts Russia will face-off with Asian contender Saudi Arabia in the opening match:
Here they are! The groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia! ๐ท๐บ๐
— #WorldCupDraw ๐ (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017
Which game are you most looking forward to?! ๐#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/CYBTaqkgpF
Once the initial excitement over the event, attended by football legends including Pele and Diego Maradona as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, died down, the argument moved on to which groups were the toughest.
Great to have @Pele at the #WorldCupDraw! ๐ง๐ท๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/DTK3AtJEug
— #WorldCupDraw ๐ (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017
And that brough the quickwits into action on, where else, Twitter. Some of the products were plain banter while some pretty mean. And yeah, nobody will perhaps mind if FIFA now autmatically place Argentina and Nigeria in separate groups:
My reaction to Mexico being in the same group as Germany and Sweden #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/58F6Xjslwu
— Monica Chavarria (@monichava14) December 1, 2017
The most surest things on earth
— Ali Noorโข (@Owenitoz) December 1, 2017
- Arsenal 4th
- Nigeria Vs Argentina World cup fixture
#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/bWiOa3oB5a
So Fifa created a Group L for the love of Ghana and co #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/MtpvVVyTsT
— Umeh and 99 others (@UmehOMA) December 1, 2017
When Iran sees that they are in the same group with Portugal and Spain #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/pNLKAwOvCJ
— Engr. Dave (@yung_pythagoras) December 1, 2017
Somewhere in Nigeria, a parent is removing glasses to hear that Nigeria and Argentina are in the same group.#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/6G4Hea4sut
— Nigerian_VinDiesel (@har4larbs) December 1, 2017
Iran competing against its Group mates !!#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/QIVmDaWuxB
— Boring... (@graphicalcomic) December 1, 2017
England 1-0 tunisia last minute
— Geoffroy Fisher (@MarvelManUtd) December 1, 2017
England 0-0 Panama
England 0-1 Belgium
England go through second place level on points with panama but better goal difference
England lose in 1/8 against S. Korea
FA sack Southgate
FA appoint Pardew
Repeat#thefuture#ThreeLions #WorldCupDraw
3 things assured to happen to Nigerians
— Based on Logistics (@Iam_Abdulaxis) December 1, 2017
- Death
- Politicians looting money
- Nigeria vs Argentina football fixture #WorldCupDraw #FanLiveNG pic.twitter.com/BdkpogAOss
Bread and butter, Nigeria and Argentina
— McABDULLAHI (@Dinho_Ferra) December 1, 2017
USA 94 โ
KOREA/JAPAN 2002 โ
SOUTH AFRICA 2010 โ
BRAZIL 2016 โ
RUSSIA 2018 โ #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/3Prq9C1BHV
#WorldCupDraw
— stranger (@ble_said) December 1, 2017
Nigeria: Iceland and Croatia will be a walk over.
Croatia: Nigeria and Iceland will be a walk over.
Iceland: Nigeria and Croatia might be a walk over.
Argentina: pic.twitter.com/byWCNDu1Xq
Iran being on Group B remined of something.. #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/mQ83rPLx1Z
— Lenore (@DracullaLair) December 1, 2017
Me after seeing Germany and Mexico in the same Group: #WorldCupDraw #SorteoMundial pic.twitter.com/YRjduHTaHx
— Champagnefabรญ (@FluffyFabian) December 1, 2017
Morocco right now ๐๐๐ญ#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/EezqD09oZJ
— haneen (@hanenAlmahde) December 1, 2017
Group L
— Dion (@Beanman23) December 1, 2017
Italy ๐ฎ๐น
Netherlands ๐ณ๐ฑ
USA ๐บ๐ธ
Chile ๐จ๐ฑ #WorldCupDraw